Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4 – Maria Joao Pires, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (2014) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/48kHz]

Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4 – Maria Joao Pires, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:11:29 minutes | 639 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: Qobuz | Digital Booklet | © Onyx Classics
Recorded: Berwaldhalle, Stockholm, 9-11 October 2013

Beethoven’s turbulent Third Piano Concerto and the serene Fourth, the last of his concertos Beethoven played in public before his deafness became total, are the two works chosen by Maria João Pires for her first recording for ONYX Classics. Her penetrating and passionate interpretations are the fruit of many years of performing these works, resulting in an intimate and deeply personal relationship with Beethoven’s genius.

This release on the Onyx Classics label has no right to be as good as it is. Pianist Maria-João Pires, 70 years old when the album appeared in 2014, has never been known as a Beethoven specialist. The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Harding is a competent group, surely, but hardly on Europe’s or even Scandinavia’s A-list. The Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, and Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, hardly lack for varied and incisive interpretations. Yet there it is: this one delivers ideas that nobody else has offered before. In a nutshell, Pires makes the piano the quiet partner to a rather martial orchestra in these works. The Third Concerto loses its epic quality and has Pires offering gentle answers to the orchestra’s turbulent phrases, with a slow movement that brings to mind Pires’ true specialty: Chopin. The tempos are generally deliberate, and the long opening movement of the Piano Concerto No. 3 gives the feeling that every note fits into a larger structure. The overall effect is wondrously lyrical, yet very well controlled on the part of both soloist and conductor, who seem really to have worked these performances out together. Those who really do not like low-key Beethoven might think twice about this, but even so might find it extraordinary. -AllMusic Review by James Manheim

Tracklist:

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Piano Concerto no.3 in C minor op.37
1 I Allegro con brio 17.15
2 II Largo 9.50
3 III Rondo: Allegro 9.11

Piano Concerto no.4 in G op.58
4 I Allegro moderato 19.43
5 II Andante con moto 4.57
6 III Rondo: Vivace 10.21

Personnel:
Maria João Pires, piano
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Harding, conductor

Download:

mqs.link_BeethvenPianCncertsNs.34MariaJPiresDanielHarding20144824.rar