Beethoven Piano Concertos
Deutsche Grammophon, 2021
10/10
Listen to Beethoven Piano Concertos
Rudolf Buchbinder just might be the greatest Beethoven interpreter alive, and here he spreads 5 Beethoven Piano Concertos across 3 discs, and he’s got a few different orchestras with him for the occasion.
Disc 1 starts with the dancing keys of the fluid and charming “Concerto No. 1 in C major op. 15”, where the flowing strings complement the incredible finger acrobatics from Buchbinder, and “Concerto No. 2 in B flat major op. 19” follows with much beauty amid the graceful strings and sublime keys, which features Mariss Jansons on his last live recording.
The 2nd disc offers the playful and animated “Concerto No. 3 in C Minor op. 37”, where a busy landscape of rumbling moments is met with bright instrumentation, while “Concerto No. 4 in G major op. 58” gets dreamy with airy woodwinds, mesmerizing keys and a fascinating attention to detail. The German ensemble the Staatskapelle Dresden are on hand for this portion of the listen, and their contributions are nothing short of awe inspiring.
The final disc is just one track, and it’s the best, as “Concerto No. 5 in E flat major op. 73” recruits the Wiener Philharmoniker and Riccardo Muti for a very diverse finish that’s prone to bouts of more intense moments, as the focused playing radiates so much skill and timelessness.
An absolute must for fans of Beethoven or those who admire piano led songwriting, Buchbinder and company make the most of every second here, and even at well over 2 hours, it never out welcomes its stay.
Travels well with: Peter Gregson- Patina; Luca Meachem- Shall We Gather