These performances were awarded Gramophone's "Recording of the Month" for March 1997.
3060320.az_BEETHOVEN_Piano_Concertos_1.html
BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos: No. 1; No. 2 • Lars Vogt (pn); Simon Rattle, cond; City of Birmingham SO • EMI 72462 (66:12)
The first two piano concertos of Beethoven stand apart from the remaining three as works of vigor, humor, and youthfulness. That spirit is brilliantly captured in theseRead more recordings from 1995, when Vogt was but 25, and the not-yet-knighted Rattle possessed a mop of still darkened hair (as opposed to the post-Stokowskian explosion he currently sports). You can tell from the opening notes of the Concerto No. 1, delivered in hushed tones that seem to smile like a mischievous child about to pounce with glee upon an unsuspecting passerby, that this is a special performance. Rattle made his name by taking a provincial orchestra and putting them on the map, and they certainly sound world-class here; alert, polished and exuding vivacity. Vogt’s nimble passagework and almost nonchalant excitement are in sync with this appropriately jovial point of view. Of course, there is plenty of competition for Vogt and Rattle in this repertoire, even at this budget-priced level. The Perahia/Haitink recording, on budget Sony, is easy to recommend. I recently heard the incandescent Martha Argerich in the Concerto No. 2, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and that glorious sound still haunts my memory, but her DG recording is expensive. In any case, you are not going to do any better than this current re-release at any price, considering as well that it is captured in bright and realistic sound.
Concerto for Piano no 1 in C major, Op. 15by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Lars Vogt (Piano)
Conductor:
Simon Rattle
Orchestra/Ensemble:
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1795; Vienna, Austria Date of Recording: 10/1995 Venue: Butterworth Hall, University of Warwick Length: 37 Minutes 15 Secs.
2.
Concerto for Piano no 2 in B flat major, Op. 19by Ludwig van Beethoven Performer:
Lars Vogt (Piano)
Conductor:
Simon Rattle
Orchestra/Ensemble:
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical Written: 1793/1798; Vienna, Austria Date of Recording: 10/1995 Venue: Butterworth Hall, University of Warwick Length: 28 Minutes 47 Secs.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 1 Customer Review )
recommendNovember 2, 2013By n. evans (Farmington, NM)See All My Reviews"Fans of Beethovens first two piano concertos will enjoy these performances. This is a good introduction for those lucky ones just discovering them."Report Abuse