Search - Beethoven :: Piano Concertos

Should be reissued

HB | Fort Mill, SC | 03/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I know what you may be thinking. Is this writer okay in the head. We already have plenty of Beethoven concerto sets.

But this set, though not the very best, should certainly be made available. I bought it many years ago for 10 dollars. At that price, you cannot beat the quality. First of all the sound is very smooth and rich. Secondly, the performances are live. The Berlin Symphony plays extremely well. The piano playing is crisp; Mr. Han's fingerwork is exceptional. These are very lyrical performances and always satisfying. Beethoven can always be played in different ways and sometimes you want to hear a gentler, kinder Beethoven. This set is for those times.

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Worthwhile for its Conductor

John Atherton | CINCINNATI, OHIO United States | 11/18/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When this set next becomes available I assume it will be inexpensive; still, there are plenty of other bargain-priced Beethoven concertos (Kempff, Fleisher, et al.), so the competition is stiff.

Derek Han plays well, but his somewhat neutral approach is better suited to Mozart, which he also recorded complete with Maestro Paul Freeman. Once again Freeman is the star. How is this conductor not better known? His approach is anything but idiosynchratic or even flamboyant, yet you never doubt that a major personality is leading these performances. The freshness comes as no surprise, since Freeman has recorded so much new music. The set is worth buying for his contribution alone."