Search - Schiff, Haitink, Dresden Staatskapelle :: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Clear remastering of great performances!

RENS | Dover, NH USA | 11/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have commented upon the re-release of the Schiff/Haitink Beethoven Concerto set under the listing of the CD of Nos. 3 and 4 on Elatus (2006). My main point is that this superlative complete cycle has now been reissued and remastered with a sound that is more open, clearer, more brilliant yet also more gutsy than the original Telarc boxed set.



The three CDs of the set are available separately in this reincarnation on the German Elatus label (import). I bet that you can't buy just one - that you will want all three!

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Vivacious early Beethoven from Schiff and Haitink

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 07/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a bargain reissue of two concertos, the First and Second, from a complete cycle that Schiff did with Haitink in Dresden. I almost always find Schiff's pianism too fussy and underpowered, but there is no denying his bent for classical style. If you think that correctness is a virtue, you will be delighted by these brisk, vivacious readings imbued with sophisticated musicianship. Haitink is fully in tune with Schiff's lightness, and the Dresdeners play elegantly. In all, this is a very successful pairing, and I kept back the fifth star only because in the end I think Beethoven is a romantic, even before the full flower of his maturity."