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Date: | Sat, 17 Apr 1999 16:47:04 -0600 |
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The Brendel/Rattle set of Beethoven's piano concertos arrived at my
door yesterday. I've played the set through once and then played the
Brendel/Levine set and Uchida's version of the 1st and 2nd piano concertos.
Differences among the above recordings are not great. Brendel/Rattle is
a little richer in sound than Brendel/Levine; Rattle is more exciting than
Levine; Uchida/Sanderling is better than both in that I feel a greater
sense of partnership in their collaboration. Is it worth having all these
versions and many more including Perahia, Solomon, Pollini, Lubin, Bilson,
Levin, Zimerman, Ashkenazy, Arrau, and Schnabel? Definitely. There's so
much to Beethoven's music, and each version brings out particular insights
and nuances that make all these versions worthy shelf mates.
Actually, I can only think of one version that I disliked - R.
Serkin/Ozawa on Telarc. Serkin made numerous mistakes at the worst times
for my taste, and Ozawa must have been on a mental vacation. Avoid this
set.
I obtained Brendel/Rattle through Music Boulevard. They had it in stock
quickly and sent it to me presto! The CD cover shows us Brendel and Rattle
staring at each other as if each gentleman knows something "big" that the
other is clueless about.
Overall, my three favorite sets are now Brendel/Rattle, Brendel/Levine,
and Perahia/Haitink. Favorites for the individual concertos is a whole
other story; the discography is immense, as it should be.
Don
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