Pierre-Laurent Aimard - Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 on CD

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Product Description Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s recordings of the complete Beethoven Symphonies with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, released as a 5-CD set in 1991 by Teldec, were a hallmark in the history of Beethoven performance. They won virtually every major international award and have since sold in excess of 150,000 sets worldwide. “The best of all Beethovens” (The Sunday Times) “This exciting set is likely to influence and change perceptions for years to come.” (CD Review) Now the same winning team is joined by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, one of the most exciting pianists performing today, in performances of Beethoven’s complete piano concertos. The critics praised Aimard’s entrancing interpretations, which were recorded in concert: "Pierre-Laurent Aimard was the fascinating soloist. …[He] had sensational dexterity and lightened his part with the greatest subtlety, melodious refinement, colour and humour...." (Die Presse). “No other conductor today possesses Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s ability to reinterpret the grand old warhorses of the classical music repertoire – thanks to an unreservedly innovatory enthusiasm – he brings them alive again.” (Diapason) Harnoncourt’s Beethoven discography, in addition to the symphonies and the piano concertos, includes the overtures, the violin concerto and Romances Nos. 1 & 2 with Gidon Kremer as soloist, Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus and Fidelio, all performed with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Pierre-Laurent Aimard has developed a remarkable career, refusing to be pigeonholed as he explores a broad range of music from different ages and sources. In 2001, he was nominated for a Grammy award for the second year in a row. He also made his Carnegie Hall debut (recorded live and released by Teldec), performed the Dvořák Piano Concerto with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Royal Concertgebouw (recorded live by Teldec) and gave the world première of Ligeti’s 18th Etude (recorded for Teldec and released on the occasion of Ligeti’s 80th birthday in April 2003). “Everything Harnoncourt touches leaves one with a sense of a country rediscovered.” (Gramophone) Pierre-Laurent Aimard: “By any standards he is one of the leading pianists of our time, a player of astonishing technical gifts and penetrating musical intelligence.” (The Guardian) Amazon Review Aimard is best-known as an exponent of contemporary music, Harnoncourt as a founding father of the period instrument movement. To the provocative Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1-5 both bring elements of their contrasting backgrounds--Aimard in the lucidity and transparency of his playing, Harnoncourt by rooting Beethoven within earlier traditions. But such templates don't always apply here, since they also utilise such ultra-Romantic gestures as wide tempo fluctuations (often from one measure to the next), elongated pauses and unexpected accents. Such a diversity of interpretive stances takes getting used to, but the effort's worthwhile as these discs make something fresh and new out of familiar repertory pieces. The first two concertos fare best and the "Emperor" is also striking with its blend of clear textures and heroic gestures that likely surprised the composer's contemporaries with their boldness. In No. 3, lyricism sometimes shades into lingering and the famous dialogue between growling orchestra and poetic piano in No. 4 is tame alongside most versions. The pair generally favour spacious tempos--the opening allegro con brios of the first three concertos don't have much brio and slow movements are slower than the norm, although those fluctuating internal speeds keep total timings within the "normal" range. But then, the goal of these artists is to restore a spirit of adventure and spontaneity to Beethoven and they've certainly succeeded. --Dan Davis