Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Piano Concerto in D Major, Op. 61a

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This pianist is apparently the "in-house" keyboardist for the Esterhazy Sinfonia and is pretty much unknown in the states. He has got fantastic fingers. The phrasing in the violin (piano version) concerto is totally precise. A real bargain.

"True to form, Naxos have come up trumps with an imaginative and useful coupling." So starts a very good review from Gramophone Magazine, arguably the most respected reviewer of classical CDs. Not only are we presented here with a nice recording of Beethoven's not-heard-nearly-enough Triple Concerto, Op. 56, composed shortly before his masterful Fourth Piano Concerto, but also a fine version of the Violin Concerto, transcribed for piano by Beethoven himself in 1807 at the request of the London pianist, composer, and piano-manufacturer Muzio Clementi. I must admit, it is quite interesting to hear the well-known Op. 61 played instead on the keyboard, nicely performed by Naxos work-horse Jeno Jando, who plays admirably with plenty of panache. His contribution on the Triple Concerto is also good. Of course, the score of the Triple is understandably nowhere near as demanding in the piano part, as it seems it was to be played by the Archduke Rudolph, son of Emperor Leopold II. However, both the violin and cello leads are more taxing. These are performed extremely well by Dong-Suk Kang (violin), and Maria Kliegel (cello), the latter receiving many a fine review for her multiple recordings on Naxos, particularly of the Schumann Cello Concerto, coupled with the Brahms Double (Naxos 8.550938). Gramophone states that "though not a 'great' recording of the Triple, it is never less than good and the sound is unlikely to disappoint." The respected Penguin Guide gave this CD a 3-star review, which they judged as "an outstanding performance and recording in every way". Lastly, BBC Music Magazine awarded this release their Critic's Choice Award in 1998 and a 5-star rating (the highest). In their review it states that the "Triple Concerto is scintillating, the solists brilliant and subtle, as the music dictates". So, three positive reviews from the most respected of sources. Plus, to two more ears, this recording to me is most enjoyable and highly recommended. And at this price, it is a real bargain.

The Beethoven Violin Concerto is my favorite classical piece. I like it so well, that I bought sheet music for the transcription to piano and have been working on larning to play it. It's slow going, thanks for asking, Jeno Jando I'm not...

I sought a recording of a piano version of the concerto to see just how I stack up (uh, not quite so well as it turns out, but again thank you for asking...) and found this CD. This wasn't exactly what I was looking for, which was a piano solo version of the piece, and at first thought I received yet another violin concerto by mistake, since the piano doesn't chime in for several minutes and the first movement opens exactly as the vionin concerto. Still, it was quite an experience hearing the piano concerto for the first time. Having 4 CD's of the violin concerto, my frame of reference is decidedly one sided. The piano concerto was a refreshing surprise. If you've never heard this before (highly likely given that few recordings available), give it a listen.

I have several other recordings featuring Jeno Jando on piano and he's an excellent performer. I highly recommend this CD.

Peter

I own more Jeno Jando recordings on the Naxos label than any other recording artist in my collection. I discovered him when trying out some of the Naxos recordings after seeing their recommendations pop in the Penguin Guide to Classical Recordings, and after seeing their consistent awards all over the place. Convinced I would get pretty good for a budget label, I ordered one of the Haydn Piano Sonata volumes. What I got was jaw dropping clarity, top notch engineering, and one of the finest classical pianists out there. Certainly one of the most prolific recording artists in the history of recorded sound. He's also on the faculty of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music.

The first concerto is a piano transcription of the Violin Concerto, same Opus number written for Stephan von Breuning and published in 1808. The piano version was for his new wife, Julia. The second concerto is the only concerto Beethoven ever wrote for more than one instrument. Jando's performance is both as sensitive and powerful, and his interpretation of these works is magnificent. The Esterhazy Sinfonia, made up of members from the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra turns in solid, sweet recordings on both concertos. And Maria Kliegel's cello work on the triple concerto will send chills down your spine. Again - thank the performer and the recording engineer.

I've seen many reviewers dismiss recordings because of the preconception that Naxos is a budget label and therefore marketing lesser quality recordings. Bad assumption. Big mistake. This is one of the finest Beethoven recordings in my collection. Preview the tracks and decide for yourself. Highly recommend. These concertos may not be as famous as his five numbered piano concertos, and listening to these recordings will leave you wondering why.