Vladimir Ashkenazy - Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1973 (2016)

His piano playing is bright and incisive, with clear articulation and intellectual depth that does not interfere with the production of warm feeling. He has exceptional control over tone color. Although he possesses a considerable degree of sheer strength, his excellent playing in delicate passages creates the dominant impression. His repertoire is wide-ranging, and he has recorded most of it, from Haydn to the works of the first half of the 20th century. He has made particularly valuable recordings of the complete piano works of Chopin, Rachmaninov, and Scriabin. Other excellent series include music of Brahms, Liszt, and the complete Prokofiev concertos. As a conductor, he is highly effective in Russian music, particularly in Prokofiev, and has made the leading recording of that composer's Romeo and Juliet. He has made his own orchestration of Musorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and recorded the work in that highly effective version, in Gortchakov's orchestration, and in its original form as a piano solo. He remains active in both careers, although in 2007 he decided keep his piano performances more to the studio in order to give listeners the best he could offer as age starts to take its toll.

Tracklist:

01. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 - 1. Allegro con brio
02. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 - 2. Largo
03. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 - 3. Rondo (Allegro scherzando)
04. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.19 - 1. Allegro con brio
05. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.19 - 2. Adagio
06. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.19 - 3. Rondo (Molto allegro)
07. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 - 1. Allegro con brio
08. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 - 2. Largo
09. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 - 3. Rondo (Allegro)
10. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58 - 1. Allegro moderato
11. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58 - 2. Andante con moto
12. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58 - 3. Rondo (Vivace)
13. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" - 1. Allegro
14. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" - 2. Adagio un poco mosso
15. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" - 3. Rondo (Allegro)