Notes and Editorial Reviews
Although the 1959-61 Leon Fleisher/George Szell Beethoven concerto cycle has seen numerous CD releases since 1987, those who’ve missed this set should consider its present budget-priced incarnation, along with these artists’ equally magnificent Brahms concertos and Mozart C major K. 503, plus Fleisher’s 1956 solo mono Brahms release featuring the Handel Variations and Waltzes. More than half a century of sonic evolution and artistic competition cannot dim the young Fleisher’s enlivening inflections of phrase, characterful energy, harmonic tension, and lyrical strength, not to mention Szell’s bracing, taut, and frighteningly well balanced orchestral frameworks. Listen to, for example, the joyous and intense motivic volleying between soloist
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and orchestra in the Beethoven G major finale and “Emperor” Concerto first-movement development, and notice Fleisher’s zesty accents in the Beethoven B-flat Rondo’s main theme and second subject.
The slow movements of the Brahms concertos convey spaciousness and repose without losing an inch of spine. In the Handel Variations Fleisher’s tempo relationships from one variation to the next are tightly integrated and cumulatively fulfilling. For collectors who like to split hairs, Szell’s legendary control emerges in slightly less ascetic, more passionate fettle in comparison to his later Cleveland versions of the Beethoven works with Gilels and the Brahms pieces with Serkin. In short, the Fleisher/Szell synergy still lives up to its legend and retains its reference status.
-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Piano no 1 in D minor, Op. 15 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1854-1858; Germany
Date of Recording: 02/1958
Venue: Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 46 Minutes 48 Secs.
2.
Variations and Fugue for Piano in B flat major on a theme by Handel, Op. 24 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1861; Germany
Date of Recording: 1956
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 25 Minutes 10 Secs.
3.
Concerto for Piano no 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Jules Eskin (Cello),
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1878-1881; Austria
Date of Recording: 10/1962
Venue: Cleveland, Ohio
Length: 47 Minutes 26 Secs.
4.
Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39 by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1865; Austria
Date of Recording: 08/1956
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 18 Minutes 12 Secs.
5.
Concerto for Piano no 1 in C major, Op. 15 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1795; Vienna, Austria
6.
Concerto for Piano no 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1793/1798; Vienna, Austria
7.
Concerto for Piano no 3 in C minor, Op. 37 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1800; Vienna, Austria
8.
Concerto for Piano no 4 in G major, Op. 58 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1806; Vienna, Austria
9.
Concerto for Piano no 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1809; Vienna, Austria
10.
Concerto for Piano no 25 in C major, K 503 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
11.
Concerto for Piano no 25 in C major, K 503 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 3 Customer Reviews )
Controversial but Beautiful April 8, 2013
By C. Liu (Mississauga, ON) See All My Reviews
"Highly Recommend George Szell's "Emperor" and Brahms's No.2!"
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The performances a real treasure September 7, 2012
By John M. (Talent, OR) See All My Reviews
"These are treasured performances than I have long enjoyed on vinyl, and their reissue on CD is an incredible bargain. No one who loves music should be without this box, no matter how many recordings of these works one already has in his/her library."
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NOT TO MISSED AT THIS PRICE August 7, 2012
By K. BAKER (HEBER CITY, UT) See All My Reviews
"These are truly epic recordings. That's a pun because they originally appeared on the Epic label, which I acquired around 1965. They appeared on Epic, Columbia's bargain label just before the music world realized that Fleisher was the world's best young pianist, and, more importantly, just before the world realized the Cleveland was the world's best orchestra. Its worth getting just to hear the orchestral intro do Beethoven # 1. While its all downhill from there, it still is as fine a job as you will find anywhere at any price on these concerti, and at a super low price.
Sony has reissued them at least twice before on CD and Columbia reissued them on the higher priced Columbia LP label after the world discovered these artists.
With the exception of Beethoven # 5, these performances top the charts. For the Emperor, nothing can touch Katchen/Gamba on Decca (ADD), but Fleisher/Szell are in the game.
Fleisher's short career came to halt not too long after recording these when he developed a right hand paralysis. Decades later, he was able to resume two handed play, and I heard him in an impressive live performance of the "Emperor".
The comments by V Carr above on the Brahms are dead on. Nothing else in the catalog comes close.
I do not know the Mozart performance, but I did hear Szell & the Cleveland in a live performance of it around 1968. Don't remember who the piano player was, but it was a stellar event. I do have several recordings of Mozart stuff by Szell & the Cleveland, and these are indispensable demonstrations of how an orchestra ought to sound-- like a single performer. These are performances where you can hear the white spaces in the score that separate the notes.
Note: recorded more than 50 years ago, the sonics are not up to modern standards, but who cares? The sonics are good enough to allow the performers to blow you away. "
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