Search - Beethoven, Karajan, Gieseking :: Herbert von Karajan: The London Years 1948-1960 (Piano Concerto No. 4, Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor")

Gieseking & Karajan Have Each Done Better

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 05/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is no disputing the incredible talents of both pianist Walter Gieseking and conductor Herbert von Karajan, particularly when it came to Beethoven, but each have turned in better performances than the ones showcased here. This CD presents their 1951 mono recordings of Beethoven's 4th and 5th Piano Concertos with the Philharmonia Orchestra, but both re-recorded these same concertos in stereo for EMI in later years. Gieseking recorded again in 1955 with the same orchestra under Alceo Galliera, while Karajan performed the entire Piano Concerto cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic and pianist Alexis Weissenberg in the mid-70s. The former CD is now sadly out of print (though I managed to find a used copy not too long ago in the Amazon Marketplace), and while the latter is currently available, all of the Karajan Edition EMI CDs seem to be succumbing to the silent deletion axe. While these other stereo Beethoven discs are a better overall bet, the Gieseking/Karajan collaboration (they also did lovely recordings of the Grieg and Schumann Piano Concertos) is still a memorable one that collectors won't want to overlook."

Beethoven by the Philharmonia

Bruce Aoki | USA | 03/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since more people know about Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.5 ("Emperor"), I will put my focus on his Fourth Concerto here. The Philharmonia Orchestra made many fine recordings of the Fourth Concerto. To begin with, there is the 1946 recording with Schnabel and Dobrowen. Schnabel's playing is always musical and engaging even when he is totally wrong. Notice how he lacks the discipline to play sixteenth notes evenly in the third movement (starting with bar 110). Gilels and Ludwig made their version in 1957 with the Philharmonia which many critics have raved about. Gilels of course plays the piano beautifully, but as usual with this pianist, this is great playing without much intelligence.



In 1962, the Philharmonia had Hans Richter-Haaser with Kertesz conducting the Fourth Concerto. Richter-Haaser's playing is excellent, intelligent, and sensitive. Reissued by Testament, this is arguably the greatest recording of this concerto ever made. The sound quality is surprisingly good.



Gieseking and Karajan's Fourth was made in 1953. This recording has all the musicality and techinical finesse of the Richter-Haaser/Kertesz recording with even more elegance and extra care. For example, in the first movement exposition, there is a violin accompaniment at bars 152-154 which no conductor except Karajan bothers to care about. This little insignificant passage, under Karajan, is molded and shaped to compliment Gieseking's exquisite playing. Incidentally, Gieseking uses Beethoven's short cadenza for the first movement. The problem with this recording is the sound quality. It is dim and fuzzy, similar to the Mozart Horn Concertos Karajan made with Dennis Brain in the same year. But no one seems to have been bothered by the poor sound since that Mozart recording is considered to be one of the greatest recordings ever made.



To experience sheer beauty of piano playing in Beethoven's Fourth, I recommend Joseph Hofmann's live performance with Barbirolli conducting from 1941. Despite the terrible sound quality and not-so-perfect playing (Hofmann did not have the luxury of digital editing!), this performance is special. This recording is noteworthy also for the first movement cadenza. Hofmann does not use either one of the two Beethoven cadenzas. Instead, he uses one by Erno Dohnanyi. What a treat! There is also a 1943 concert performance that Hofmann did with Mitropoulos which was recently released by Music & Arts."