Maurizio Pollini: Beethoven, Mozart & Brahms Piano Concertos [2xDVD9]

Maurizio Pollini's late 1970s film recordings of Beethoven Piano Concertos 3 and 5; Mozart Piano Concertos 19 and 23; and Brahms Piano Concerto 2 have it all: great pianism, beautiful playing by the Vienna Philharmonic, magnificent conducting by Karl Bohm (Beethoven, Mozart) and Claudio Abbado (Brahms), all adding up to one thing: a beautiful experience. These DVDs are a feast for the ears: great audio, and the eyes: great video. The 1970s Unitel films used in this DG release have held up very well in the vaults: there are no glitches or imperfections in the picture. The camera work is also excellent, and serves the music being performed.

In my perception, Pollini plays all the concertos here with an Italian grace and charm, relying more on Classical elements and a "lean" approach, than a more Romantic, heavy handed approach, especially in the Beethoven and Brahms works. I think also the sound of the Bohm-led items is slightly fuller bodied than Abbado's Brahms, but the sound in all 5 Concertos is very good.

There is no audience, and the recording venue: Vienna's Musikvereien, has wonderful acoustics - one of the best concert halls in the civilized world. It was worth alot to me to see Karl Bohm smile at Maurizio Pollini at the beginning of I, of Mozart's Piano Concerto 19 with it's humorous, scherzo like theme which begins the concerto. Highly recommended!

Track List:

DVD 1: Maurizio Pollini - Piano Concertos

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37
Kadenz: Ludwig van Beethoven
1. 1. Allegro con brio - Cadenza: Beethoven 16:13
2. 2. Largo 9:44
3. 3. Rondo (Allegro) 9:15
Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor"
4. 1. Allegro 21:08
5. 2. Adagio un poco mosso 8:17
6. 3. Rondo (Allegro) 10:26
Maurizio Pollini, Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm

Total Playing Time 1:15:03


DVD 2: Maurizio Pollini - Piano Concertos

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Piano Concerto No.19 in F, K.459
Cadenzas: W.A. Mozart
1. 1. Allegro vivace - Cadenza: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 12:57
2. 2. Allegretto 8:27
Cadenzas: W.A. Mozart
3. 3. Allegro assai - Cadenza: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 7:38
Piano Concerto No.23 in A, K.488
Cadenza: W.A.Mozart
4. 1. Allegro - Cadenza: Mozart 11:20
5. 2. Adagio 7:16
6. 3. Allegro assai 8:16

Maurizio Pollini, Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat, Op.83
7. 1. Allegro non troppo 17:25
8. 2. Allegro appassionato 9:02
9. 3. Andante - Più adagio 12:46
10. 4. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco più presto 9:20

Maurizio Pollini, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado

Total Playing Time 1:44:27