Radu Lupu plays Beethoven [Box set]

Radu Lupu is indisputably one of the foremost pianists performing before the public today. Although his repertory is confined mainly to the classical school (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and especially Schubert) with certain longer or shorter forays into other realms (Schumann, Brahms, Grieg or even Bartok, Janacek and Debussy), his live renditions as well as his recordings are greatly admired by worldwide audiences and praised by professional critics in flattering accolades. In a way, I dare say he remained - since Alfred Brendel's retirement - the most authoritative figure among living pianists with regard to Golden Triad "Mozart- Beethoven-Schubert".

Released by DECCA as a celebratory bow for the 60th anniversary of Lupu, this Beethoven CD box set comprises recordings made for this label by the great Romanian pianist over more than twenty years, since his emerging on international concert platform in early 1970s. Coming with a hat-trick of first prizes (won in prestigious international piano competitions: Van Cliburn - 1966, Enescu - 1967, Leeds - 1969) Radu Lupu rapidly established himself as one of the most important artists of his generation. An artist who has something profound, deeply thought and felt, to convey through the music he performs!

Actually it is very difficult to speak about Lupu's manner to play as long as its owner himself is not confident with words and barely gives an interview in decades! It is quite impossible to put it in a definition, just listen to that marvellous imperial pronouncement which is in his hands the E flat major Concerto. His serene, airy touch in the second movement is simply hair-rising. His unassuming virtuosity - bordering on a strange, austere noblesse - is so simple and natural displayed in the demanding outer parts of the concerto. It reminds me one critic said once that with Lupu "music is not made, just happens". Then adhere to his joy - and its three distinct facets - in the lively parts of the First Piano Concerto in C major. How sober and restrained approaches he that lament which is the central Andante con motto in the Concerto No.4 in G major or the bold textures of the Concerto No.3 in C minor, first to announce a new, grand-scale vision in Beethoven outcome. The three piano sonatas (with famous nicknames: "Pathetique", "Waldstein", "Moonlight") are three "moments of grace", making us regret that Lupu didn't record any other Beethoven's sonata. In consolation we enjoy the 32 Variations in C minor and two Rondos op.51 and - most of all - a superb account of a chamber gem, the Quintet in E flat major.

Being awarded with prestigious prizes (such as: Edison Award, Grammy Award, "Abbiati" Prize, "Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli" Prize), recognized as a living legend, eagerly sought-after, apparently distant and elusive but in fact taming incandescent inner worlds, Radu Lupu continues to seduce his audiences. For the moment, his art reveals itself only in live appearances. Until he will decide to return to recording studios don't hesitate to acquire this Beethoven box set (along with the two companion volumes in the anniversary edition, devoted to Schubert and Brahms respectively). They are essential mementos of the magisterial art of Radu Lupu!

These are vital, powerful, sunny, and exuberant. I was suprised by Mehta's conducting ( no less than excellent throughout). The sound itself and the balance between piano and orchestra I find ideal. Only one slightly slow tempo mars a performance: the first movement of #3 which I find a bit too slow cf Serkin/Bernstein and Kubelik, Fleisher/Szell, Gilels/Szell(live-Orfeo), and Moravec-Neumann. His numbers 1 and 4 are near perfect-he mines both for poetry as in the 4/1 filigree in which he surpasses even Curzon. #1 is quite quick // Fleisher but does not seem rushed. I would like his #5/3 to be as quick as his #1/3, but the rest is both powerful and poertic (especially in #5/2. #2 is excellent but does not quite match his #1.

Of the attached sonatas, all excellent, I would recommend most a truly great
Waldstein and the Quintet for four winds* and piano (*Royal Concertgebouw winds)

Peers #1 Serkin/ Ormandy (later version), Fleisher/Szell,Pollini/Jochum
#2 Serkin/Ormandy , Fleisher/Szell and Rosbaud (two titans), Gulda/Stein
Kempff/Leitner, Pollini/Jochum
#3 Serkin/Bernstein, Fleisher/ Szell, Moravec/Neumann, Gilels/Szell (Live)/Orfeo,Annie Fischer/Lukacs, Arrau/Klemperer
#4 Curzon/Kubelik and Knappertsbusch, Arrau/Haitink, Larrocha/Chailly, Fleisher/ Szell and Klemperer, Serkin/Ormandy and Kubelik, Pollini/Bohm
#5 Serkin/Ormandy, Fleisher/Szell, Pollini/Bohm and Abbado, Casadesus/Rosbaud*, Brendel/Levine, Gulda/Szell

*the second movement is too quick, but Rosbaud is ideal in the outer movements

The Zubin Mehta phenomenon in classical music has always been one of the most incomprehensible to me. It's not worth going into endless surprises of coarseness and almost hostile approaches to music that his various performances have provided over the years. But proof that everyone has a bad day, which for a conductor with a grim output means almost the opposite, there is this Emperor Concerto.. It means there was one day where the heavens parted, or the mind cleared, and a great performance was given. The Emperor concerto here is just spectacular. Details appear in the orchestration like fauna of the forest, and the pianist is given a bold and bucolic background for a very brave performance. I don't know what to make of it. Except to say it is great.