I have at least a dozen CDs of Beethoven’s piano concertos. Why on earth would I buy yet another one? Well, last year I loved Austrian pianist Till Fellner’s J. S. Bach: Inventions & Sinfonias & French Suite CD. When I saw Fellner’s new Beethoven CD, I immediately bought it and listened to it. Fellner is a meticulous pianist. There’s not a lot of pounding and annoying emotionalism here. Fellner took a cool and professional approach to Bach and now he does the same thing with Beethoven. Some may prefer an overwrought performance of the “Emperor” concerto, but not me. The music has plenty of energy; it takes a talented pianist to channel it into a satisfying result. Fellner’s approach is deliberate yet deft. If you love this music, hearing Fellner play it makes it sound new again. GRADE: A
Never a big Horowitz-type of playing fan either. But perhaps it made sense in another era.
Horowitz was dramatic and showy, Patti. Till Fellner is smooth and controlled. It depends on your taste.
I’m not sure that with Beethoven, a little emotionalism is a bad thing. Sometimes big music requires some extra punch. I’m not talking mallets-on-gongs playing, but some fire is good.
I’ve been listening to Glazunov, a 2-CD set of his Symphonies 1,2,3 and 9 the Royal Scottish National Orchestra led by Jose Serebrier. It’s very nice.
HBDIRECT is having a box set sale, Rick. I might have to pick up that Glazunov set.