Eugen D'Albert

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Carl Maria von Weber (Composer), Franz Liszt (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Eugen d' Albert (Composer), Frederic Chopin (Composer), Franz [Vienna] Schubert (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Bruno Seidler-Winkler (Conductor), Eugen d'Albert (Conductor, Performer), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Staatskapelle Berlin (Orchestra), Gotthelf Pistor (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Eugen d'Albert, Gotthelf Pistor
• Orchestra: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin
• Conductor: Bruno Seidler-Winkler, Eugen d'Albert
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Carl Maria von Weber, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Eugen d' Albert, et al.
• Audio CD (March 28, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Symposium
• ASIN: B0000262QS
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,078 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #81 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Ecossaises

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRULY "HISTORICALLY INFORMED" PERFORMANCE?, January 23, 2011

By 

Boyd Conrad (GR MI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eugen D'Albert (Audio CD)

I bought this album for the live first movement of Beethoven's "Emperor" concerto. It was recorded and broadcast in 1930, and has survived in mint condition (probably only played once) until this transfer. This performance presents the interpretation of the best pupil of the best pupil (Liszt) of the best pupil (Czerny) of the composer. It is therefor possible that this performance comes closer than any other recording to the freely improvizational performance style of Beethoven himself. If it does, then much we accept as "authentic" is open to question. By 1930, d'Albert was decades out of practice, but he refuses to moderate his approach to allow for weakened technique. The result is a dramatic reading with virtually no marking time passages between climaxes. From the opening runs the music pulls us along with a power that reduces technical flaws to mere pebbles in the stream. All 20th century recordings of this music pale by comparison, the work of mortal talents against the force of a true giant. This is a kind of music making we will never hear again. It may be the work of an old man (d'Albert was in his 66th year when he cut these records), but it is the best document we have of the magnificent 19th century, and the most direct link we have to the composer. There are many other worthwhile tracks on this album, but it is this powerfully dramatic "Emperor" that justifies its purchase. Indeed, for lovers of Beethoven and/or the romantic century, it is required listening!