Wilhem Backhaus - Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5, Diabelli Variations (1992)
Wilhem Backhaus - Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5, Diabelli Variations (1992)
EAC | FLAC (image+.cue, log) | Covers Included | 208:45 | 1.1 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Decca | Catalog: 433891
EAC | FLAC (image+.cue, log) | Covers Included | 208:45 | 1.1 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Decca | Catalog: 433891
Of how many recordings do you suppose you can say: This sounds just right; I can hardly imagine it being bettered? In a field as competitive as Beethoven's concertos, this might sound like reaching too far?
Yet history, an unimpeachable witness, has already declared in favour of this album.
We won't aim as high as "the truth". Just magisterial command of the metier will do. There are sure to be two or three other artists of whom exactly the same can be said, in relation to this collection. Perhaps Claudio Arrau or Wilhelm Kempff. Nevertheless, the assessment stands.
For this album is not just any recording in a competitive market, but one of the defining hours in the history of the recorded repertoire. Considering its date, 1959, it sounds remarkably good. If your ears on any day are unspoilt by other recordings, it will sound as clear as you might wish. Isserstedt and the Vienna Philharmonic give a superb account of themselves too.
No need to dwell on details. There are no "highlights", no eccentricities, just the right mood, tempo and flawless execution for each concerto.
I would expect to see this recording still on sale in 100 years to an enthusiastic audience of Beethoven fans, who want only the best - and in those stakes, Backhaus/Isserstedt have very little genuine competition.
Wilhem Backhaus - Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5, Diabelli Variations (1992)
Track List:
CD1 - Piano Concertos 1 & 3
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
1. Allegro con brio
2. Largo
3. Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
4. Allegro con brio
5. Largo
6. Rondo: Allegro
CD2 - Piano Concerto 2, Diabelli Variations
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
1. Allegro con brio
2. Adagio
3. Rondo: Molto allegro
Variations on a waltz by Diabelli, for piano in C major ("Diabelli Variations"), Op. 120
4. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - Tema, I-V
5. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - VI-X
6. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XI-XV
7. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XVI-XX
8. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XXI-XXV
9. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XXVI-XXVIII
10. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XXIX-XXXI
11. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XXXII
12. Diabelli Variations Op. 120 - XXXIII
CD3 - Piano Concertos 4 & 5
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
1. Allegro moderato
2. Andante con moto
3. Rondo: Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ("Emperor"), Op. 73
4. Allegro
5. Adagio un poco mosso
6. Rondo: Allegro
Performers:
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009
EAC extraction logfile from 18. August 2010, 17:12
Wilhelm Backhaus / Beethoven - Piano Concerto 1~5 - Diabelli Variations
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EAC extraction logfile from 18. August 2010, 17:12
Wilhelm Backhaus / Beethoven - Piano Concerto 1~5 - Diabelli Variations
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TOC of the extracted CD
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4 | 32:03.33 | 16:44.35 | 144258 | 219592
5 | 48:47.68 | 8:43.27 | 219593 | 258844
6 | 57:31.20 | 9:26.28 | 258845 | 301322
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Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009
EAC extraction logfile from 18. August 2010, 17:39
Wilhelm Backhaus / Beethoven - Piano Concerto 2 - Diabelli Variations
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EAC extraction logfile from 18. August 2010, 17:39
Wilhelm Backhaus / Beethoven - Piano Concerto 2 - Diabelli Variations
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Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009
EAC extraction logfile from 18. August 2010, 18:21
Wilhelm Backhous / Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 No.5
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EAC extraction logfile from 18. August 2010, 18:21
Wilhelm Backhous / Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 No.5
Used drive : ASUS DRW-1814BLT Adapter: 2 ID: 2
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
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1 | 0:00.33 | 17:45.25 | 33 | 79932
2 | 17:45.58 | 4:45.47 | 79933 | 101354
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Copy CRC 4C467B35
Copy OK
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Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 6) [CBF7C439]
Track 3 accurately ripped (confidence 6) [2E98EE96]
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