Search - London Symphony Orchestra, Wilhelm Backhaus, Ronald :: Plays Beethoven

Some people just like old records better than newer ones. This CD is highly recommended to them. The style of orchestral playing in 1927, when the Emperor concertos were recorded, was very different than it has been even since the mid-1930s. You can hear some old-fashioned sliding in the strings in this recording, and a lot of imprecision as well. Wilhelm Backhaus played these concertos very well, in his typical direct style, on both of these recordings. So, they are recommended to listeners who enjoy visiting the distant past. The rest of us can hear live Backhaus performances of the same concertos recorded in the late 1950s (Stradivarius STV 10002) and hope London reissues his studio recordings. --Leslie Gerber