VA - Ultimate Piano Concertos: The Essential Masterpieces (2008) (5 CD Box Set)

Unlike many budget compilations that offer only selected movements or brief excerpts, Decca's Ultimate Piano Concertos: The Essential Masterpieces presents 10 masterworks in their entirety on five CDs, giving concerto fans a satisfying listening experience. Granted, these reissues are not audiophile recordings, nor are the performers familiar in every case; but for analog recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s, and digital recordings from the 1980s, the sound is quite good, and the performers are never less than fine, though in many instances, they are indeed exceptional. These concertos are at the top of most virtuoso pianists' lists, and though fashions change, all of these concertos have staying power and are regularly played in competitions around the world. Arguably the two most popular concertos are presented on the first disc, with Viktoria Postnikova performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor and Cristina Ortiz playing Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor; both recordings are digital and offer great presence and clarity of details, as will be found on disc 2 in Jorge Bolet's dynamic renditions of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor and Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor. Disc 3 features the oldest recordings with the murkiest sound, but Clifford Curzon's performances of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major and the Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, "Emperor," are still enjoyable for their great musicality and technical brilliance. Stephen Kovacevich's crystal-clear performances of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, "Elvira Madigan," and the Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major make disc 4 a delight, while Claudio Arrau's recordings on disc 5 of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor and the Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor are moving classics that fully deserve inclusion and have excellent sound for their age. This box set is a treasure trove that many will find enriching, and despite its few flaws, it will pay dividends far beyond its cost-cutter price.

Tracklist:

CD1 - Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov
01. Victoria Postnikova - Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, op.23 - Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito
02. Victoria Postnikova - Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, op.23 - Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I
03. Victoria Postnikova - Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, op.23 - Allegro con fuoco
04. Victoria Postnikova - Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op. 18 - Moderato
05. Victoria Postnikova - Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op. 18 - Adagio sostenuto
06. Victoria Postnikova - Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op. 18 - Allegro scherzando



CD2 - Grieg - Schumann - Mendelssohn
01. Jorge Bolet - Piano Concerto in A minor op.16- Allegro molto moderato
02. Jorge Bolet - Piano Concerto in A minor op.16- Adagio
03. Jorge Bolet - Piano Concerto in A minor op.16- Allegro moderato molto e marcato
04. Jorge Bolet - Rondo capriccioso op.14
05. Jorge Bolet - Piano concerto in A minor op.54- Allegro affettuoso
06. Jorge Bolet - Piano concerto in A minor op.54- Intermezzo- Andantino grazioso
07. Jorge Bolet - Piano concerto in A minor op.54- Allegro vivace



CD3 - Beethoven
01. C.Curzon - Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major - I Allegro Moderato
02. C.Curzon - Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major - II Andante Con Moto
03. C.Curzon - Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major - Rondo- Vivace
04. C.Curzon - Piano Concerto No. 5 In E - Flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor' - I Allegro
05. C.Curzon - Piano Concerto No. 5 In E - Flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor' - II Adagio Un Poco Mosso
06. C.Curzon - Piano Concerto No. 5 In E - Flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor' - III. Rondo- Allegro



CD4 - Mozart
01. Stephen Bishop Kovacevich - Piano Concerto No.21 I. Allegro maestoso
02. Stephen Bishop Kovacevich - Piano Concerto No.21 II. Andante
03. Stephen Bishop Kovacevich - Piano Concerto No.21 III. Allegro vivace assai
04. Stephen Bishop Kovacevich - Piano Concerto No.25 I. Allegro maestoso
05. Stephen Bishop Kovacevich - Piano Concerto No.25 II. Andante
06. Stephen Bishop Kovacevich - Piano Concerto No.25 III Allegretto



CD5 - Chopin
01. Claudio Arrau - Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, op.11 - I Allegro maestoso
02. Claudio Arrau - Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, op.11 - II Romance - Larghetto
03. Claudio Arrau - Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, op.11 - III Rondo - Vivace
04. Claudio Arrau - Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, op.21 - I Maestoso
05. Claudio Arrau - Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, op.21 - II Larghetto
06. Claudio Arrau - Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, op.21 - III Allegro vivace