Paul Lewis, BBC Symphony, Jiri Belohlavek - Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos (2010) [Official Digital Download]

His complete set of the Beethoven sonatas enjoyed extraordinary acclaim in the UK, culminating in the prestigious ‘Recording of the Year' award from Gramophone magazine for the fourth volume in 2008. Encouraged by what has now become a worldwide success, Paul Lewis has chosen to turn his attention to the five piano concertos with these distinguished partners. Recorded between July 2009 and March 2010, these interpretations paint a portrait of Beethoven full of light and shade. With this three-disc album of Beethoven’s piano concertos Paul Lewis complements his earlier set of the 32 sonatas and also his appearances at the Proms this summer where for the first time all five concertos will be played by a single artist. So may I say at once that Harmonia Mundi’s eagerly awaited set is a superlative achievement and that Lewis’s partnership with Jirí Belohlávek is an ideal match of musical feeling, vigour and refinement.

Paul Lewis and Jirí Belohlávek have produced a set of the Beethoven piano concertos that puts them closer to their Classical-era roots while conveying a sense of excitement in Beethoven's daring and innovative writing. This is not a boldly stated and theatrically dramatic reading of these works; one might say it's conservative, but not so much so that the listener can't help being moved by the rousing ending of the Emperor Concerto or caught up in the energy of the opening movement of the Concerto No. 3. Lewis gives the slow movements elegance and gracefulness with a touch that is wonderfully legato. Yet he knows how to change his articulation to help change the character and shape of each phrase throughout the concertos, adding interest to the music without overdoing any drama. He and Belohlávek work well together in this, neither one being indulgent, and with Belohlávek keeping the orchestral colors very much in line with the piano. Their interpretation sounds completely natural to Beethoven's style, from the first to the last concerto. Harmonia Mundi's sound is very clear and present, and equally balanced between the orchestra and piano.

Tracklist:

CD1 #01 - Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op.15 I. Allegro con brio
CD1 #02 - Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op.15 II. Largo
CD1 #03 - Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op.15 III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando
CD1 #04 - Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 I. Allegro con brio
CD1 #05 - Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 II. Adagio
CD1 #06 - Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 III. Rondo. Molto Allegro



CD2 #01 - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 I. Allegro con brio
CD2 #02 - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 II. Largo
CD2 #03 - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 III. Rondo. Allegro
CD2 #04 - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 I. Allegro moderato
CD2 #05 - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 II. Andante con moto
CD2 #06 - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 III. Rondo vivace



CD3 #01 - Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor' I. Allegro
CD3 #02 - Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor' II. Adagio un poco mosso
CD3 #03 - Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor' III. Allegro ma non troppo


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