Beethoven, Ludwig van - Piano Concertos 3, 4 & 5 - Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Pizarro, Artur
"...the overall impression is of unanimous intention and glorious teamwork." (The Scotsman, Kenneth Walton, 2009)
"It would almost be worth acquiring these two discs for the conducting. Not having heard Mackerras direct these concertos before, I found there was double pleasure to be had from these fresh and inspiring readings. The most pleasing performance is probably that of the Fourth Concerto. In general, though, this is a performance of grace and musicianly charm. Where Pizarro's playing of the first-movement cadenza in the Third Concerto is impossibly mannered, suggesting that without the conductor's shaping hand the performance might end up goodness knows where, his handling of the cadenza in the Fourth Concerto is exceptional." (Gramophone, Richard Osborne, 2009)
Double album featuring Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op. 37, Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major Op. 58 and Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Op. 73 - 'Emperor' performed by Artur Pizarro, Sir Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Recorded at Perth Concert Hall, UK from 2nd - 5th November 2008
Produced by James Mallinson
Engineered by Philip Hobbs
Post-production by Julia Thomas, Finesplice, UK
Piano technician Bruno Torrens - Artur Pizarro plays a Bluthner concert grand piano supplied courtesy of the Bluthner Piano Centre, London - http://www.bluthner.co.uk/
Design by John Haxby (Art Surgery)
Cover image courtesy of AKG Images: 'Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer' (The Wayfarer above a Sea of Fog) c.1818. Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840). Kunsthalle, Hamburg.