Search - Beethoven, Pollini, Bpo :: Beethoven: Klavierkonzerte Nos. 3 & 4 [Germany]

ORCHESTRA STRONG, POLLINI SLEEPY

T. Bellows | 01/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"One man's view: Pollini is a great artist, a master. He can play all the notes in these works. That's a feat in itself. But he just never connects with me in the heart-of-heart. I don't feel deep commitment here. Frustrating! Because the orchestra seems to kick out real energy. Personally, I'd go for Brendel on piano. He plays with that extra something--a lightness of touch; agility; fluidness; and subtle passion! Maybe give him a listen...."

Why are they tip-toeing through Beethoven?

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/12/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It would be easy to give up on the Beethoven piano concertos. One almost never hears a performance as committed as it needs to be. Pianists and conductors barely rehearse them, relying on these thrice-worn works to receive knee-jerk approval from the audience no matter how dull and routine the performance may be.



In the case of Pollini and Abbado, like Perahia and Haitink before them, these are refined, sanitized readings. Everything is "classically" in place, without smudges--or interest. Both are great artists, and despite the reputation their Beethoven concertos have for being a mite cool and conventional, I expected more than this. At best we have a civilized run-through, at worst an act of emotional neglect. Pollini actually tinkles his way through the sublime Fourth Concerto! Sigh."