BEETHOVEN: Complete Concertos - Kovacevich, Grumiaux, Arrau, Szeryng, Krebbers, Concertgebouw Orch, LSO (4 CDs)

Like the Beethoven symphonies, his concertos form a cornerstone of the standard classical repertoire and collected together here, on four discs, are all his major concertos in stellar performances. From the Haydnesque first concertos, to the serene calm, poise and beauty of the Fourth Piano Concerto and the Violin Concerto, to the swagger of the Fifth (‘Emperor’), these are undisputed masterpieces all. The performances are all critically acclaimed – the Kovacevich/Davis partnership in the Piano Concertos, Krebbers and Haitink in the Violin Concerto and Grumiaux in the two Romances, slow movements in search of a full-length concerto, if you will, dating from c.1798-1801. By way of a curiosity is added the Piano Concerto in E flat, WoO 4, which has come down to us only in sketch form and is reconstructed by Willi Hess. Also included is Beethoven’s ‘tribute’ to the Baroque concerto grosso in the form of his Triple Concerto, with Arrau, Szeryng and Starker as the stellar soloists.

BEETHOVEN

Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5
Stephen Kovacevich, piano
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Colin Davis

Piano Concerto in E flat major, WoO 4( reconstr. by Willy Hess)
Lidia Grychtolowna, piano
Folkwang-Kammerorchester
Heinz Dressel

Violin Concerto
Herman Krebbers, violin
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Bernard Haitink

Violin Romances Nos. 1 & 2
Arthur Grumiaux, violin
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Bernard Haitink

Triple Concerto
Claudio Arrau, piano
Henryk Szeryng, violin
Janos Starker, cello
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Eliahu Inbal