Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'

Legendary Chilean-American pianist Claudio Arrau was born in 1903. During a career lasting over 60 years, he became one of the most admired instrumentalists of his generation. He was particularly revered for his performances and recordings of Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, and Brahms, but was also renowned for his interpretation of early 20th century music, especially that of Debussy. He died in Mürzzuschlag, Austria in 1991.

Wilhelm Kempff was one of the truly great German pianists and one of the most remarkable performing artists of the 20th century. Kempff was renowned for his interpretations of Beethoven and this 10-CD compilation features performances of all five of the composer’s Piano Concertos made with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1953, and the Waldstein, Moonlight, Pathétique and Les Adieux Sonatas. The set also includes performances of Mozart, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, and Brahms recorded between 1953 and 1958.

On this budget-priced 10-CD set, the legendary Austrian conductor Bruno Walter performs major works by Mahler, Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Brahms, and Mendelssohn. The recordings cover the years between 1935 and 1960, and they feature the Columbia Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras. Amongst the soloists are some of the greatest artists of their time, including Kathleen Ferrier, Lauritz Melchior, Rudolf Serkin, and Nathan Milstein.

Cultivated, sensitive and technically brilliant, Bruno Walter the musician may be reckoned among the most influential conductors in musical history, particularly in view of his definitive interpretations of works by Mozart and Mahler. But his readings of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner and Mendelssohn also provide evidence that the Berlin-born Walter was an outstanding craftsman in sound.

This 10CD set will appeal to those who simply love the piano, and who want to add to their CD collection some of the greatest concertos and sonatas ever written for piano.

It will also appeal to those who are fascinated not only by the great music, but also by the people who play such challenging music.

On these CDs is a remarkable collection of performers. From great artists of the last century such as Richter, Anda, Gilels and Wild – all of whom rank as among the very greatest pianist of all time, to the young Brendel, recorded at the beginning of his career in the early 1960s in two Mozart concertos. Brendel recently retired from performing and recording having become one of the greatest interpreters of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

The younger generation is represented by early recordings by performers who are still only in their 30s. Kissin and Lugansky represent the long line of Russian school virtuosos that can be traced back to Anton Rubinstein, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninov, Benno Moseiwitch, Nikolai Medtner, and of course Richter and Gilels. On these CDs are Richter playing Schubert’s sonata D894, Gilels in Beethoven’s concerto 3&5, Anda in a Schumann recital, Brendel in Mozart concertos 19&20, Freire in Liszt concertos 1&2 and Totentanz, Lugansky in Rachmaninov’s Etudes Tableaux, Kissin is Chopin concertos 1&2, Pizarro in Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies, and Grimaud in Rachmaninov’s Second concerto, and Ravel’s G major concerto.