Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Piano Concerto No. 3

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Kurt Masur (Conductor), Hans Vonk (Conductor), Dresden Staatskapelle (Orchestra), Christian Zacharias (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Christian Zacharias
• Orchestra: Dresden Staatskapelle
• Conductor: Kurt Masur, Hans Vonk
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00005NPIZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,741 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Con in C, Op.56 'Triple': I. Allegro

2. Con in C, Op.56 'Triple': II. Largo

3. Con in C, Op.56 'Triple': III. Rondo Alla Polacca

4. Pno Con No.3 in c, Op.37: I. Allegro Con Brio

5. Pno Con No.3 in c, Op.37: II. Largo

6. Pno Con No.3 in c, Op.37: III. Rondo (Allegro)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well played but routine interpretations, September 11, 2007

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Piano Concerto No. 3 (Audio CD)

I don't share the first reviewer's enthusiasm for this CD, although admittedly it's a bargain. As so often happens, Kurt Masur's conducting is plain-faced and routine. Perhaps that's why Heinrich Schiff, usually a vigorous performer, seems bland here. Zacharias tends to lead the ensemble in the Triple Concerto, and his playing shows more life than that of the other two soloists. The sonics and clean, and the orchestra plays well enough, but there are better bargains among Triple Concerto recordings (for example, the readings led by Szell on Sony and Fricsay on DG). As for the Third Piano Concerto, Zacharias becomes more vigours on his own, and his reading can't be faulted for taste and technique. However, his performance pales compared with Serkin/Bernstein, also available as a bargain on Sony.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true bargain, June 30, 2003

By 

Ryan Richards "reb77" (Midland, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Piano Concerto No. 3 (Audio CD)

This is one of those hidden treasures of the classical world: wonderful musical interpretation at a bargain price. Zacharias, Hoelscher and Schiff bring the Triple Concerto to life with clear, compelling performances. There isn't anything especially amazing about their rendition, but it's powerful and boisterous--the way Beethoven should be--and for that it's my personal favorite interpretation. The Gewandhaus Orchestra is up to its usual taut standards, and the overall effect is just fantastic. The Dresden Staatskapelle doesn't hold together quite as well on the Third Concerto, although they compensate for the occasional rough edge with a dark, rich, powerful sound that really accents Zacharias's fireworks at the piano. Again, not an overly individual performance, but as with the Triple Concerto, it's powerfully and solidly done. That kind of solid work on a mid-price CD makes the CD a bargain in my mind.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irresistible, November 23, 2007

By 

Steven Tiger - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Piano Concerto No. 3 (Audio CD)

Maybe I am prejudiced, because I wanted to get recordings of both works, and here they were together. But I really cannot fault either performance. I don't think it is necessary or even desirable to expect every new recording of standard repertoire to offer innovative interpretations. This familiar music carries its own irresistible grandeur and delight, and perhaps it is wisest for performers simply to let the music speak for itself without imposing idiosyncratically original notions. If a performer has an original notion that is insightful and historically appropriate, great, let's hear it. But all I really wanted from this recording is Beethoven, and these performers deliver the genius of Beethoven's music without getting in its way. I love every moment of this recording.