Buy complete decca recordings by wilhelm backhaus from amazons classical music store. For at least a half century beethovens piano concertos played a central role in rudolf serkins repertoire. Beethoven complete piano sonatas backhaus 475 7198 ib. The bottom line is that this is a good set of recordings covering almost all of backhauss core repertoire of the time except for beethoven many people dont know that backhaus, not schnabel, was first approached by hmv to record beethovens complete piano concertos, but he turned the project down. Recordings of beethoven piano cycles prepared by jens laurson. The brahms concertos are each on a disc its also true they. If a sloppier opening tutti exists for the emperor concertos opening bars, i havent heard it. Read music minus one piano mozart concerto no 23 in a major kv488 book 2 cds music minus pdf online. You will know if or when you want schnabels complete set which, to some, is key to. He was particularly well known for his interpretations of mozart, beethoven.
For almost two centuries, the original version of the piano concerto no. In 1941 he recorded the emperor with bruno walter and the new york philharmonic, and nearly a decade later he embarked on the full cycle. You will know if or when you want schnabels complete set which, to some, is key to understanding schnabel and even beethoven. My first contact with backhauss beethoven was, i guess, like many impecunious collectors in the early 1970s, via a world of the great classics compilation spa 69 i. Reel, 4tr stereo, 7 reel, album london records lck 80047. This disc joins together live recordings from three different wilhelm backhaus concerts. Superb, sharplyetched readings stand sidebyside with clueless, shapeless ones.
Complete decca recordings by beethoven, ludwig van, brahms, johannes on cd. Aug 23, 2016 collection book music minus one piano. Wilhelm backhaus beethoven 250 piano concertos 1 and 3. Artur schnabel, the first pianist to record all 32 beethoven sonatas, is still held in the highest esteem by many piano aficionados and his recordings are much sought after. However, i found his complete traversals of the piano sonata cycle inconsistent, to say the least. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dec 05, 2017 wilhelm backhaus plays beethoven, piano concerto no. Jul 20, 2008 id long ago abandoned hope of ever hearing beethovens fourth piano concerto played as ive heard it in my head, and as it is played here. I have little information on his 78s era recordings and decca monaural beethoven sonatas. He was particularly well known for his interpretations of beethoven and romantic music such as that by brahms. Backhaus readings are still widely regarded as among the best recordings pearl 9902 and others of those works.
Browse and buy all classical recordings featuring wilhelm backhaus piano. It is scored for solo piano and an orchestra consisting of a flute, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two. A complete work list for this release is currently under development. Wilhelm backhaus the legendary of wilhelm backhaus vol. I encourage anyone to listen to backhauss interpretation of beethovens sonata no. Beethoven 250 piano concertos 1 and 3 ludwig van beethoven by wilhelm backhaus download and listen to the album. Piano, arranged castelnuovotedesco, mario, concertos piano concertos pianos 2, arranged concertos violin concert programs damrosch, walter, germany griffes, charles tomlinson, incidental.
Beethoven played bybackhaus has been heard around the world as a standard performance even after 50 years of recording. Kempff is not as perpetually understated as backhaus and he can even be quite playful. Wilhelm backhaus 1952 recording of beethovens second concerto with the vienna philharmonic falls short of his stereo remake six years later. Concertos by ludwig van beethoven piano concertos no. Hermann scherchens book the nature of music argued that beethovens symphonies matured to become the universal. The lovely nonbeethoven encores from the march 30th concert reveal backhaus penchant for improvising interludes between numbers. Album beethoven 250 piano concertos 1 and 3, ludwig van. Wow, what a wonderful set at an almost giveaway price. This 2011 box set brings together alfred brendels first recording for philips of the complete cycle of beethovens piano sonatas and his recording of all five piano concertos. Wilhelm backhaus the concerto recordings wilhelm backhaus. Beethovens piano sonatas form one of the most important collections of works in the whole history of music. A profile of wilhelm backhaus piano and details of their recordings available. This discography is imperfect because my source is much restricted.
Beethoven piano concerto no 4 in g major op 58 andante con moto arrau. Find your preferred location and add it to your address book dispatch to this address when you check out. Wilhelm backhaus 18841969 left a 60year recorded legacy which began in 1908, but though known particularly for beethoven and brahms in his later years, he performed a much wider repertoire before the war as seen on the companion set apr6026 and the four sonatas and two concertos included here are the totality of his early beethoven output. This posting is one of a series covering the recordings of beethovens piano sonatas in my music collection, about the sonata no. The complete piano concertos wilhelm backhaus, hans schmidtisserstedt, wiener philharmoniker on allmusic. Instead i would point you toward, in no particular order and not exclusively, cycles by alfred brendel, bernard roberts, alfredo perl or paul lewis. Wilhelm backhaus bachaus on some record labels 26 march 1884 5 july 1969 was a german pianist and pedagogue. Mar 15, 2016 collection book music minus one piano. He recorded the complete piano sonatas and concertos of beethoven and many works of mozart and brahms, and in 1928 he became the first pianist to record the complete etudes of frederic chopin. Wilhelm backhaus bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Having highly enjoyed other recordings by wilhelm kempff schubert complete piano sonatas on dg and beethoven piano concertos with the berliner directed by leitner on dg i couldnt resist and took this complete set of the kempff 196565 stereo recordings there is another dg set with kempff 195156 mono recordings at a higher price. Arkivmusic marking 50 years since the passing of wilhelm backhaus 5 july 1969, decca brings together, for the first time, the artists complete recordings for the label.
Wilhelm backhaus discography1 from albeniz to brahms. Beethoven, backhaus, vienna philharmonic orchestra, hans schmidtisserstedt piano concerto no. The way in which he can hold together the whole of the. Spanning several decades of his life as a composer, the sonatas soon came to be seen as the first body of substantial serious works for piano suited to performance in large concert halls seating hundreds of people. Couple this with equally reliable recordings of some choice sonatas and the diabelli variations and it becomes irresistible. Beethoven, backhaus, knappertsbusch piano concerto 5. The main problem lies within the outer movements, which are sluggish and square, hinting little at the musics playful spirit and rhythmic zest. In this book are all five of beethoven piano concertos, reproduced directly from the authoritative breitkopf and hartel edition, including most of the composers. Nov 01, 2001 beethovens piano sonatas form one of the most important collections of works in the whole history of music. He did introduce it in the court theater on march 29, 1795, during the lenten season when hapsburg catholicism banned all theatrical activity.
Brendel was one of the handful of alltime beethoven masters, known for his intelligent, yet entirely musical and effective interpretations. Backhaus, wilhelm, bailly, louis, ballades instrumental music beach, john parsons, busch, adolf, canons, fugues, etc. As a boy of 9 or 10 he was taken to hear both of the brahms piano concertos. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Beethoven, hans schmidtisserstedt, wilhelm backhaus beethoven. May 20, 2009 artur schnabel, the first pianist to record all 32 beethoven sonatas, is still held in the highest esteem by many piano aficionados and his recordings are much sought after. The lovely non beethoven encores from the march 30th concert reveal backhaus penchant for improvising interludes between numbers. Audio recording, beethoven, ludwig van, concertos piano. If you are in the market for a measured, considered yet not unexciting but crucially, consistent beethoven sonata cycle, then i should say at the outset that you should look elsewhere.
Wilhelm backhaus plays as robustly as ever, if less surefingered than in his prime. Wilhelm backhaus plays beethoven, piano concerto no. No unnecessary tone or emotion comes from this outwardly impassive man. Recordings by wilhelm backhaus stream on idagio idagio. Deccas box also includes lofty purist interpretations of the piano concertos from backhaus, though szeryngs 1965 lso recording of the violin concerto hasnt the rapture of his concertgebouw remake with haitink. Classical music reference recording 300,322 views 8. Wilhelm backhaus ii stereo 1958 1969 decca to paraphrase myself referring to a beethoven concerto dvd. Wilhelm backhaus piano page 7 of 10 presto classical. Beethoven, piano concerto no 3 op 37, wilhelm backhaus,piano. The welltempered clavier, book i live in troy, ny, 1987 keith jarrett. Backhaus had a long career on the concert stage and in the recording studio.
Piano sonatas to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Backhaus recording of the complete beethoven piano concertos with vposchmidtisserstedt was one of the cornerstones of the decca catalogue in the 1950s. Backhaus was one of the greatest beethoven pianistsslightly craggy, direct and nononsense but also a poet. Listen to all recordings by wilhelm backhaus in stunning, lossless sound quality. Wilhelm backhaus piano wiener philharmoniker, hans schmidtisserstedt. Hans knappertsbusch pulls himself together for the eighth symphony, but his heavy tread goes down like pound cake on a hot summer day. The brahms concertos are each on a disc its also true they are long and as this set only contains concertos, there werent any smaller pieces available as fillers. No one has ever questioned his regard for, even worship of beethoven. Wilhelm backhaus 26 march 1884 5 july 1969 was a german pianist and pedagogue. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Book and discs are outstanding achievements at every level and invaluable to anyone with the.