Daniel Y. (coolascaliban) from CANTON, MI Reviewed on 10/18/2007...
This disc may be short and sweet, but Serkin's "Emperor" is poignant and breathtaking. (It was originally part of a three disc set of Beethoven's complete concertos for piano.)
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CD Reviews
An old favorite that has stood the test of time
10/31/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"One of my favorite pieces in Beethoven's repetoire is the second movement in his 5th piano concerto, and this particular recording was one of my first purchases and still an all time favorite. Telarc was one of the first to exploit the new recording opportunities of the then new digital format in the 1980s and they succeeded early on in mastering full digital recording for orchestral works. For me, the Telarc recording provides an impressively engrossing three dimensional spatial sense and clarity that has always been missing in earlier analog recordings. Extraneous noise sources such as errant string squeal or paper shuffling no longer compete with tape hiss and, without being invasive or distracting, provide a more captivating snapshot into one of the performances of the now deceased Mr. Serkin."
Just listen to the feelings put into the recording
Beethoven | NYC the capitol of the world | 05/07/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"just listen to the feelings and emotions pour into this recording by Serkin and Ozawa......tears will flow......(especially the piano keys in the 2nd movement-Adagio un poco mosso) also try to listen/compare to another master piece also by Beethoven, Piano Trio Op 97 Archduke 3rd Movemt Andante Cantabile.........Beethoven penned in his ever so tenderness onto the music sheets for you again and you will feel his touch into your soul"
Classic Serkin
J. Wayland Eheart | east central Illinois | 12/20/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The LP of Serkin playing this same concerto was the first classical record I bought, back in 1966 or so. I loved his playing then, and love it now. These two recordings of the Emperor are bookends of his career more or less. Serkin was a great artist, but was also a hummer, which is distracting to some people (it doesn't bother me).
The recording engineering is excellent and the sound has a great presence. I've always like Telarc's engineering, and think the engineers' names should be on the labels of all CDs so we can follow them and pick out the ones we like. Failing that, we go with the label name, which, as I say, I consider good in the case of Telarc.
My only gripe is that the adagio is not quite as sweet as I've heard by some other artists and even by Serkin himself in the earlier LP recording. But this recording is well worth the money, and, if the Emperor is one of your favorites, I think you should add this one to your collection."