Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb production which will command your attention, 1 Jan 2005
Von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmonic demonstrate the role of the orchestra in this piece; while the three soloists feed and infect one another with the emotions and the melodies, the personality and dynamism of the orchestra is essential to drive and sustain the work, to give it the body in which the passions and emotions can thrive. In some recordings of the work the orchestra can sound flaccid, almost apologetic. The Berliner and von Karajan have never apologised for anything.Beethoven's Triple Concerto for violin, cello and piano was written in 1804, after his deafness had plunged him into the depths of depression and at a time when he had begun to rediscover both his confidence and his desire to express himself. It is a work which will tug at your emotions on many levels. A gentler piece of music than the symphonies, it has no less depth and power. The balance and contrast of the three solo instruments demands concentrated listening. The three soloists - Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mark Zeltser, and Yo Yo Ma - play with passion, authority, and balance. There are joyful, as well as bleak, qualities to the Triple, qualities which orchestra and soloists bring to the fore. From the first note you are riveted. It is the sense of authority, the sense of confidence in the blend between soloists and orchestra which is most striking. This is an invigorating recording, one which commands your ear and invites you to listen and feel the emotion. The choice of three Beethoven overtures - Egmont, Corialan, and Fidelio - is interesting, and these are renditions which are well worth hearing. However, while this is a superb CD, there are other recordings of the Triple which use the 'Choral Fantasia' in the second half, and I feel this does give the offering extra passion and gravitas. But a superb recording, nevertheless, and one which most Beethoven enthusiasts should welcome to their collection.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A SUPERB BEETHOVEN FEAST, 27 Jan 2003
By A Customer
Karajan has his critics, and I must say I am not always happy with his interpretations, but in these Beethoven performances he is at his very best. The Beethoven triple concerto is unfortunately not one of the composer's most popular works, and I find it hard to understand why this is. There is so much colour here, with the blending of piano trio and orchestra, combined with great tunes and Beethoven at his deepest, at times darkest, and frequently (especially in the final movement) most jaunty and joyous. The soloists combine superbly with each other, and with the sumptuous sound of the Berlin Philharmonic this is surely one of the great performances of the piece. The sound is also excellent, the recording producing lovely warm tones, and great power at times.
A decade earlier, in 1969, Karajan recorded the piece with three great Russian soloists, producing a classic recording. But I must say this 1980 recording is just as good, and so if you have to choose between the two it would seem to me to rest on the accompanying pieces. The 1969 recording provides also a fantastic performance of Brahms's double concerto. In this 1980 recording three magnificent Beethoven overtures are the accompaniment: the performances are fabulous, with the Berlin Philharmonic at the height of its powers; I have never heard a more exciting, moody reading of Coriolan, and Egmont and Fidelio are not far behind.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
intimate triple concerto, 25 Feb 2008
I have to say that it is the production that makes this recording a bit special, yes you have the warm karajan orchestra but it is the mixing levels that bring you an almost chamber like sound and feel to the concerto that makes it for me. This is an original 1980's recording not remastered and it certainly does not need it. I own the szell recording too but I am veering towards this one because of the more intimate feel of it. His greatest 3 overtures recorded from 1970/65 is ofcourse an added bargain! highly recomended.
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~ Oistrakh/Karajan/Szell
~ Johann Sebastian Bach
~ Ludwig van Beethoven
~ Perlman/Po/Giulini
~ Berliner Philharmoniker
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