I own about a dozen sets of these Beethoven concertos. So why buy another set? The answer is Richard Goode. Richard Goode is one of my favorite pianists. I have practically every CD he’s ever recorded. Goode’s approach is always intelligent and original. He finds aspects of the music you haven’t heard before. This set displays Goode’s skill and panache. The Budapest Festival Orchestra with Ivan Fischer is more than adequate. There are flasher performers, but Goode’s approach is sleek and stylish without excesses. I love these performances with Goode’s crisp, clean playing. GRADE: A
Another good birthday idea. Although Phil prefers strings; me, the piano.
I’m with you, Patti. I prefer piano works although I own a lot of string music, too. I suspect you would like Richard Goode’s playing.
Worth noting that Goode is a serious book collector as well as a great pianist. I’ve twice run into him in bookstores in S.F. & London when he’s in town for a concert.
I was with you in one of those bookstores in SF when we saw Richard Goode, Art. That’s when I started to collect Richard Goode CDs.