Wilhelm backhaus 26 march 1884 5 july 1969 was a german pianist and. Wilhelm backhaus bachaus on some record labels was a german pianist and pedagogue. Beethoven, piano concerto no 3 op 37, wilhelm backhaus. Dont hesitate to point out any mistake or ommission. Johann sebastian bach complete prewar beethoven recordings music. Beethoven, hans knappertsbusch, joseph keilberth, orchestra filarmonica di vienna, orchestra della radio di stoccarda, wilhelm backhaus beethoven. All five concertos are included, but the latter three come in double versions, offering intriguing comparisons. The main problem lies within the outer movements, which are sluggish and square, hinting little at the musics playful spirit and rhythmic zest. Wilhelm backhaus 18841969 was internationally recognized and celebrated as an outstanding authority for classicalromantic piano music. Wilhelm backhaus interprets beethovens piano concerto no. Here is a list of beethovens complete piano concertos, most of which have been reedited on cd. Beethoven composed several concertos during his teens the piano score of a complete concerto in e flat dating from 1784 is the only one to have survived. How serious beethoven was, indeed whether he had his tongue firmly in his cheek, is not known. In my judgement, in terms of musical poetry and profundity of interpretative approach, this coupling of beethovens fourth and fifth piano concertos is one of the best available at any price.
Backhaus had a long career on the concert stage and in the recording studio. Although he managed to finish 31 out of the 32, the pianist died before he. Beethoven complete piano sonatas backhaus 475 7198 ib. Alan abel 1622 apr 1958 sofiensaal, vienna concerto no. The book explains the choices made and why this new reconstruction was necessary. Piano sonatas, comparison summary rolfs music blog. A tenth cd contains encores from the concerts three pieces by schubert, a short only 1. Wilhelm backhaus, piano hans schmidtisserstedt vienna philharmonic orchestra recording info. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. 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.
Listen to the first movement of the pathetique and you feel transported to the 1950s, with all of the nostalgia that characterizes memories of. Complete symphonies box set cd ludwig van beethoven beethoven. The compositions of ludwig van beethoven 17701827 consist of 722 works written over fortyfive years, from his earliest work in 1782 variations for piano on a march by ernst christoph dressler when he was only twelve years old and still in bonn, till his last work just before his death in vienna in 1827. The complete piano concertos by wilhelm backhaus on amazon music. Beethoven eventually spoke of the first movement as a struggle between head and heart, whilst the second was a conversation with the beloved. For at least a half century beethovens piano concertos played a central role in rudolf serkins repertoire. Backhaus readings are still widely regarded as among the best recordings pearl 9902 and others of. Wilhelm backhaus plays beethoven, piano concerto no. Wilhelm backhaus, who in 1905 won the distinguished anton rubinstein competition in paris at the age of 21, limited his repertoire after the second world war to works by the great masters beethoven, mozart, brahms, schubert, haydn and schumann. It contains all of his concert recordings, the most popular sonatas and waltzvariations. Beethoven, hans schmidtisserstedt, wilhelm backhaus beethoven. The concertos, likewise, have been visited many times before.
Wilhelm backhaus the legendary of wilhelm backhaus vol. Diabelli variations wilhelm backhaus on allmusic 2003. No one has ever questioned his regard for, even worship of beethoven. Wilhelm backhaus bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. It adheres to the concerto variant of sonata form and is scored for solo piano and an orchestra consisting of flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, and. Andantes fourdisc set of beethoven s piano concertos is a goldmine for collectors of historic recordings, especially those interested in pianists. Vienna philharmonic orchestra, hans schmidtisserstedt 195 london ffrr cm 9022. He was particularly well known for his interpretations of mozart, beethoven. I have recently been assigned the beethoven 3rd piano concerto. One of the reasons for his unique sound is his choice of a bosendorfer piano for his performances and recordings, as opposed to the more common use. Beethoven completed this concerto in 1806, a year of intense productivity. He recorded complete sets of the sonatas and concertos twice, and just about all the rest of the chamber music with piano as well. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
A complete cycle of beethovens piano concertos with pianist elizabeth sombart. Alan abel1622 apr 1958 sofiensaal, viennarecorded by decca. Backhaus recording of the complete beethoven piano concertos with vposchmidtisserstedt was one of the cornerstones of the decca catalogue in the 1950s. 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. Here, across eight albums and nine cds, andras schiff, caught live in concert in zurich between 2004 and 2008, plays all 32 of the beethoven piano sonatas. Available from pristine classics great second, problematic third. Piano sonatas to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Bach, beethoven, brahms, britten, elgar, gesualdo, gyorgy kurtag, mozart, schubert, and schumanns later works, both for solo piano and in collaboration with the brentano quartet. The complete prewar beethoven recordings beethoven piano concerto no. He has already recorded two complete cycles of the beethoven piano sonatas the latest one two years ago which are very fine indeed. Wilhelm kempff was the premier german pianist of the postwar period, so its no surprise that he was considered one of the supreme interpreters of beethoven. The complete prewar beethoven recordings beethoven.
Ludwig van beethoven, 32 sonate per pianoforte wilhelm. The complete piano concertos wilhelm backhaus, hans schmidtisserstedt, wiener philharmoniker on allmusic. 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 with eugene ormandy and the philadelphia orchestra. Reel, 4tr stereo, 7 reel, album london records lck 80047. Beethoven composed in all the main genres of classical music. He was particularly well known for his interpretations of beethoven and romantic music such as that by brahms. Classical music reference recording 306,729 views 8. Allegro wilhelm backhaus hans knappertsbusch bayerisches staatsorchester. Couple this with equally reliable recordings of some choice sonatas and the diabelli variations and it becomes irresistible. Although he managed to finish 31 out of the 32, the pianist died before he got around to remaking the hammerklavier op. Beethoven piano concertos buchbinder sony classical.
Ludwig van beethoven, wilhelm backhaus the complete pre. The works reveal the pianistic and orchestral mastery of beethovens early and middle periods as well. Its opening, while not so demonstrative as that of the fifth, is no less regal in character, and its music as a whole combines grace and depth of feeling befitting a sovereign. Classical ludwig van beethoven piano concertos nos. Wilhelm backhaus 1952 recording of beethovens second concerto with the vienna philharmonic falls short of his stereo remake six years later. Im ecstatic this is some of the greatest music ever written. The second volume of the works by ludwig van beethoven include a version of the concertos for piano woo 4, reconstructed by roberto diem tigani. Allegro cd2 piano concerto 2, diabelli variations piano concerto no.
As a boy of 9 or 10 he was taken to hear both of the brahms piano concertos performed by dalbert and. Pages in category piano concertos by ludwig van beethoven the following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total. Biss begins examining, both in performance and academically, the concept of a composers late style, and has put together programs of j. Variations 33 for piano on a waltz by diabelli in c major, op. The lovely nonbeethoven encores from the march 30th concert reveal backhaus penchant for improvising interludes between numbers. I would be curious to see peoples rankings of all beethoven concertos in terms of quality, andor, perhaps not quite the same question. Beethoven, piano concerto no 3 op 37, wilhelm backhaus,piano. List of compositions by ludwig van beethoven wikipedia. But it is the five piano concertos he wrote between 1795 and 1809 that have been beloved by pianists and audiences alike for over 200 years. Wilhelm backhaus 26 march 1884 5 july 1969 was a german pianist and pedagogue. Of the piano concertos, i have over twenty different versions including most of the noteworthy releases of the last fifty years. Beethoven, backhaus, vienna philharmonic orchestra, hans schmidtisserstedt piano concerto no.