Beethoven: The Piano Concertos (2007)

Brilliant

This DVD is brilliant in every respect. Faultless in its production and in the performance of the conductor, orchestra and pianist. (for the first two concertos, Zimerman conducts from the piano). It's a joy to listen to and watch. There's nothing more to say. If you appreciate genius buy it, you will not be disappointed. April 25, 2008

A magnificent series

This 2 DVD series of Beethoven piano concertos is just amazing --- excellent sound recording and video, superb piano playing by Barenboim, and a most wonderful orchestral performance bt the Berlin Staatskapelle --- all seamlessly put together. I just could not believe how wonderfully the orchestra plays with Barenboim at the keyboard giving minimum signs such as raising eye brows. Barenboim's Beethoven interpretation sound so true, powerful and authoritative. I highly recommend this DVDs in your music library. April 18, 2008

Great recording

Great transfer from 80's video to the modern day DD 5.1. Performances are also top notched ones. If you are looking for a complete set, I would recommend this over the other two done by Barenboim and Ashkenazy. December 31, 2007

Wonderful

During many time, I was looking for the complete series for the Piano and Orchestra Beethoven works.

I saw this one with the unforgettable and greate Leonard Bernstein but I never heard something related Zimmerman. However now, after to have saw the two DVD, I realized that I bought a simply wonderful workmanship.

More words?????? Just buy and see it.....it's a masterpiece that must be in your house. December 17, 2007

Elegant Beethoven from Bernstein and Zimerman

It is instructive to compare these performances to the recently released Beethoven Piano Concertos played by Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Bernard Haitink led London Philharmonic, filmed in 1974. The Ashkenazy Beethoven performances are traditional, with a larger orchestra accompanying the piano, and both unleashing a full arsenal of tricks: extensive vibrato, a profligate use of the piano pedals, slower tempos and broad melodic lines, all of these a 19th Century performance paradigm. The lofty, denser and Romantic Beethoven we hear on those DVDs are no longer considered acceptable for modern performances. Their style was replaced by the lighter, swifter, streamlined Beethoven that we hear in these performances, recorded in September 1989 for the Bernstein led Concertos 3-5 and December 1991 for the Zimerman conducted Concertos 1 and 2. Here we find smaller orchestral forces, buoyant textures, swifter tempos and beautifully elegant playing from Zimerman.

The Wiener Philharmoniker have a unique sound that is especially effective when playing early and middle period Beethoven. Classical era grace, left over from the days of Haydn and Mozart, is a Vienna Philharmonic speciality. Here it produces lovely, elegant Beethoven. Bernstein elicits this elegance from the orchestra while exhibiting uncharacteristic restraint, and in the process, he induces transparent instrumental textures that yield lyrical and evocative performances rather than dense and hefty ones. This lithe and agile Beethoven is very surprising, given Bernstein's uber-Romantisch reputation: it certainly surprised me. The other big surprise is how similar Zimerman's conducted performances are to Bernstein's. Close your eyes and they are hard to tell apart.

All of these performances were filmed soon after Roger Norrington had completed his breakthrough period instrument performances of the Symphonies and Piano Concertos by the end of 1988. Given their revelatory nature and widespread approbation, some influence was inevitable. The Beethoven performances on this 2 DVD set are a wonderful recorded legacy and make a fine sonic monument for Leonard Bernstein, who died a year after his performances were filmed. The 2 DVDs have a total running time of 197 minutes. Sound is available in both the PCM and DTS 5.1 formats, with DTS offering additional space around each instrument and added rear ambiance. The sound is very clear and full, the digitally remastered image is crystalline. There are the usual DGG menus and languages.

If elegant, somewhat restrained but buoyant Beethoven is your forte, you most probably will like these performances a great deal. Strongly recommended.

Mike Birman November 20, 2007

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