Abbado, Pollini: Beethoven – The Piano Concertos (3 CD, FLAC)

Performer: Maurizio Pollini
Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Claudio Abbado
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 3 CD
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 679 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Maurizio Pollini
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

# Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Maurizio Pollini
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

# Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Maurizio Pollini
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

# Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Maurizio Pollini
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

# Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (“Emperor”), Op. 73
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Maurizio Pollini
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

Disc: 1
1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15: Allegro con brio
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15: Largo
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15: Rondo, Allegro scherzando
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19: Allegro con brio
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19: Adagio
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19: Rondo, Molto allegro

Disc: 2
1. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Allegro con brio
2. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Largo
3. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Rondo, Allegro
4. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: Allegro moderato
5. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: Andante con moto
6. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: Rondo, Vivace

Disc: 3
1. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (‘Emperor’), Op. 73: Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (‘Emperor’), Op. 73: Adagio un poco moto
3. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (‘Emperor’), Op. 73: Rondo, Allegro

Pollini vs. Pollini!

I totally agree with Antonio Perci for his commentary about the fourth concerto. Having listened to Pollini and Abbado, I tried Arrau who used to be my favorite, then Zimerman and Kempf. As often it happens to me with Pollini, when I go back to my ancient favorites I realize how difficult it is to rival his art made of precision, balance, clarity, fidelity to the scores.
Really, you should listen to the fourth and the magic of the first movement. I have one regret. The second movement of the fifth, although quite impressive when compared with other interpretations, does not match the standards that Pollini himself established in 1979 with Bohm. But Pollini does make up for the fourth.