> BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto 5 Lupu [PL]: Classical Reviews- May2002 MusicWeb(UK)

MusicWeb International One of the most grown-up review sites around 2023
Approaching 60,000 reviews
and more.. and still writing ...

Search MusicWeb Here Acte Prealable Polish CDs
 

Presto Music CD retailer
 
Founder: Len Mullenger                                    Editor in Chief:John Quinn             

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, Op 19 (1792) [38.32]
Rondo in C major, Op 51 No 1 (1795?) [5.42]
Rondo in G major, Op 51 No 1 (1795?) [9.17]
Sonata No 19 in G minor, Op 49 No 1 (1795?) [7.54]
Sonata No 20 in G major, Op 49 No 2 (1795?) [8.36]
Radu Lupu (piano) & (Concerto only) Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Zubin Mehta
ADD: recorded 1977
ELOQUENCE DECCA 466 689-2 [70.01]
Superbudget



This disc is one of four releases on the budget-priced Eloquence label containing Radu Lupu’s 1970s recordings of all five Beethoven Piano Concertos. Lupu’s performances were widely acclaimed when they first appeared, and it is good to see them back in circulation. They were taped variously between 1971 (No 3) and 1980 (No 1, the only digital recording in the set) and, with the exception of No 3 (in which Lawrence Foster conducts the London Symphony Orchestra), featured the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta. In fact Decca proudly proclaim these (with their prominent photo-logo of Mehta) to be part of their ‘Zubin Mehta Edition’, thereby attributing (by implication) the lion’s share of the honours to the conductor rather than the soloist!

The complete series is gathered together as follows. Nos 1 and 4 share one (well-filled) disc: 466 707-2. The rest are coupled with a variety of other Beethoven orchestral or piano music. No 2 includes (very generously) an almost complete Prometheus, on 466 681-2. No 3 (fittingly, but far from generously) is followed by the 32 Variations on an Original Theme, on 466 690-2. On the disc we’re considering here, No 5 is topped up with a short (but agreeably self-contained) recital comprising the two Op 51 Rondos, and the two two-movement Sonatas of Op 49.

The two missing pieces from this list are the so-called ‘Triple Concerto’ (Op 56 in C major, for piano, violin, cello and orchestra) and the ‘Choral Fantasy’ (Op 80 in C minor, for piano, chorus and orchestra). So far as I am aware, Lupu has not recorded these, but readers wishing to complete their collection may wish to note that (very usefully) they can be found together on the (Philips) Eloquence label – the number is 464 368-2. Arrau is the pianist in the former, with Szeryng and Starker, and conducted by Inbal: the latter comes from the complete Brendel-Haitink set.

This is undoubtedly an ‘Emperor’ to be reckoned with. Lupu’s on good form, and Mehta contributes a stylish accompaniment. So – a good buy? Not really! Read on…

In the other issues of this series, Piano Concertos Nos 1-4, Lupu’s spontaneity and subtlety result in stylish and honest performances which say a great deal about the composer and his spirit: even the orchestral accompaniments – not ideally committed or polished – wouldn’t prevent me from making a recommendation. And, if pressed, I confess it’s much the same here. Except that Lupu seems less well suited to the extrovert bravura of this Concerto: his playing could be both freer (the opening flourishes, for example, which lose some of their impact with his rather literal approach) and weightier. And the Israel Philharmonic is not a Premier League team, I fear: there are times when the ensemble and even their intonation leave something to be desired. Listen to the mighty exchanges between soloist and orchestra which lead into the piano’s notorious quadruple octaves in the first movement: the dotted rhythms aren’t together, and the voicing of the chords leave a nasty taste in the ear.

Does any of this really matter? Well yes, because good budget price recordings of the ‘Emperor’ aren’t hard to find these days. Take your pick from Kovacevich with Davis; Pollini with Boehm; Ashkenazy with Solti; Lill with Gibson; or Michael Roll (who is quite excellent, with a superb conductor in fellow pianist Howard Shelley). Best of all, try Perahia, with Haitink conducting an inspired Concertgebouw, coupled with No 4; or Kovacevich’s later recording in which he directs the very expert Australian Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard, coupled (most enterprisingly) with the Grosse Fuge.

In making these alternative recommendations, I’m assuming that the coupling isn’t likely to be a major factor in buying this Lupu issue. I’d be surprised if that were so, the Op 51 Rondos and Op 49 Sonatas (which Lupu plays superbly) being – if I may put it this way – both early and easy. The Lupu-Mehta recording sounds fine, by the way; but my top two (Perahia and the later Kovacevich) are state-of-the-art digital.

No contest, then, despite being a thoroughly adequate performance and recording.

Peter J Lawson

AVAILABILITY
www.buywell.com


Return to Index

Error processing SSI file