CD REVIEW
– BEETHOVEN
Piano Concertos Nos. 3 and 4
Boris Giltburg, Piano
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko
Naxos 8.574152
[69:59]
'
To quote Leo
Tolstoy: everything comes in time
to those who know how to wait.
All who have admired the two
previous issues in this series*,
which began in 2019 and was
expected to be completed by the
end of 2020, will rejoice at the
eventual release of a third
standout album, from a Boris we
can admire, featuring Beethoven's
two remaining piano concertos.
Piano Concerto
No.3 was first performed in
April 1803 with the composer, at
33-years-old already losing his
hearing, as piano soloist. He was
regarded as the most brilliant of
his time. Evidently 19th-century
audiences loved it the most of
all his concertos, possibly for
its romanticism. Giltburg's
booklet notes are as readable as
his playing is listenable. He
writes of this concerto that as a
young man he was "totally
lost under the music’s
spell".
Although today the
sublime Emperor Concerto
(No.5) is nearly everyone's
favourite, I have always had a
soft spot for Piano Concerto
No.4, and the musician
himself admits to it "having
a special place" in his
heart. Its premiere was at a
private concert in March 1807,
but the first public performance
was not until December 1808.
Beethoven was again the featured
soloist, giving his last public
appearance ever of playing the
piano with an orchestra. It is
reckoned to be the most demanding
of the concerti from an execution
standpoint and Giltburg is not
found wanting.
As on his two
earlier albums, a Fazioli piano
is again the Israeli pianist's
instrument of choice and he is
splendidly supported by the RLPO
in the charge of Vasily Petrenko.
There is passion and an elegance
in the playing of both orchestra
and soloist. The fine sounding
recordings, produced by Andrew
Keener, were made in the former's
home city.
The jewel box
booklet, like its predecessors,
has a cover photo of mountains
taken by Giltburg, who is a keen
photographer. The sleeve shows
conductor and soloist, maybe
smiling broadly at a job well
done?
These are
performances to cherish and well
worth acquiring even if, like me,
you already have the works in
your collection.
*Naxos 8.574151 & 8.574153
© Peter
Burt 2023
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