| Label: MEDICI ARTS
Catalog: 3085298
Format: DVD Murray Perahia; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner;Wholenote Discoveries - March 2009
Lately I have had the pleasure of going through several complete sets of Beethoven Piano Concertos by leading pianists such as Barenboim, Zimmerman, Pletnev, and others. Each is special in its own way. Because his unassuming, self effacing demeanour, I really did not have high expectations of a new DVD set played by Murray Perahia. However, as I write this I am of the opinion that this set is the best of all... for pianistic command, musicality, beauty of phrasing, and rapport between soloist and conductor. These 1988 performances were transmitted live from The Royal Festival Hall, showcasing the young and deservedly esteemed Perahia with the ever perfect Neville Marriner and his Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. None of the other versions generates the sense of forward motion and excited expectancy that often has the listener (figuratively) on the edge of his, or her, chair. This edition easily eclipses the Sony CDs of Perahia’s collaboration with Haitink and the Concertgebouw recorded in 1983-86. When I want to hear any of these concertos this is the set I’ll turn to. Bruce Surtees |
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Price: $35.98