Discovering Masterpieces of Classical Music: Beethoven - Piano Concertos 1-5 (2007)

 Superb Performances
As more and more classical DVDs are becoming available, I am slowly replacing recordings that I already have on CD. This was an excellent opportunity to replace a number of CDs with one reasonably priced purchase. While one of the reviews I read (not on Amazon) noted that Mr. Barenboim played a few wrong notes and maybe was not fully able to balance some of the orchestral aspects due to his involvement as soloist, I should like to report that as someone who is not a super know-all where musical interpretation is concerned, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this huge undertaking.
To realize that these works were recorded live during a three day period shows a capacity that few, if any, other musicians might be tempted to try. Playing the solo piano is one thing, conducting the orchestra another, and to pull it all off so magnificently is quite a feat.
These are the first recordings that I have seen or heard from the Bochum Jahrhunderthalle, a building that one would not assume would have the correct acoustics for this sort of endeavor. Whatever magic the sound engineers were able to work is amazing though it never at any times seems strange or artificial. The same can be said of the video, where a nice balance of showing individuals within the orchestra and Daniel Barenboim as soloist has been achieved.
I like these recordings immensely and most of this is due to Mr. Barenboim being in complete charge and being able to interpret the piano part and control the orchestra exactly as he saw fit.
March 31, 2008

 Barenboim at his peak
Daniel Barenboim is one of the greatest musician of our time. This complete rendering of the Beethoven piano concertos is a proof of his excellence: A great conductor and a great pianist, all at the same time! A delight in terms of sound and image. May be the best complete recording of the Beethoven piano concertos in DVD. January 27, 2008

 Magic!
I've always loved Barenboim since my first vinyl album of his Beethoven Sonatas sang me to sleep in my teens. Having him on DVD is a magical treat!

I received the DVDs for Christmas and have spent the day after listening to (and watching) them. What an experience! The sound quality of the DVD is superb and I often get the feeling that if Barenboim didn't have to stay conscious to play and conduct, he would melt into the piano and music!

This brings up an interesting thing; a few weeks ago I bought the Askenazy DVDs of the Beethoven concertos and watched them several times, replaying some parts again and again to try to "get inside" the artist and his performance. I was never able to. Ashkenazy treats the piano as if it were something "other" than himself that must be mastered while Barenboim IS the piano!

You have to watch these DVDs to know what I mean.

I also think that the synergy between the pianist and orchestra is amazing when Barenboim is conducting AND playing! All your cells will smile! I'm not kidding, you just gotta watch it!

Pure magic! December 26, 2007

 A Master's Beethoven
I've had very mixed feelings about Daniel Barenboim as both a pianist and conductor over the years. For instance, I really disliked his Bach Well-Tempered Clavier of a couple of years ago. But he has always been a masterful Beethoven player and that is clearly in evidence in this set of two DVDs on which he plays all five Beethoven Concerti, live at the Ruhr Piano Festival earlier this year (May 21-23, 2007), with the Staatskapelle Berlin, an orchestra for which he is Chief Conductor for Life. This set makes a fine companion to the DVD set of Barenboim playing all the Beethoven piano sonatas issued about a year ago. There are those who wonder why one would watch DVDs of concerts in preference to listening to a CD. Well, first there is the visual aspect, for me a very important component of the musical experience, but also since more music is generally contained on a DVD than a single CD, one often gets a bargain. This set costs about the same as two CDs, but one can't get all five Beethoven concertos on two CDs -- it takes three of them. So this set is a bit of a bargain compared to CD sets of the concerti.

All that would mean nothing if these weren't excellent performances, but they are. I was especially thrilled with Barenboim's Third Concerto, a particular favorite of mine. His first movement cadenza was, for me, worth the price of admission. Gloriously dramatic. Much the same could be said about the entire Emperor Concerto. I might have some quibble about the slightly heavy approach to the Second Concerto (which was, of course, the first Beethoven wrote and much more like Haydn than any of the others), but Barenboim's way with that concerto's delicious middle movement makes up for any concern I might have about the outer movements. As for the Staatskapelle Berlin, it is a top flight orchestra and they provide superb accompaniment. I guess I should mention, if it wasn't already obvious, that Barenboim conducts from the keyboard and I have no arguments with his well-considered conceptions; this Beethoven reminds me less of Furtwängler, with whom Barenboim is often compared, than of Böhm.

An easy recommendation, particularly for Barenboim fans, but also for others who want solidly played and beautifully videographed and recorded performances of these great concertos.

Scott Morrison December 14, 2007

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