Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5

This new set of the Beethoven concertos is interestingly different in emphasis, in that whereas I had previously thought of Lewis as primarily a thoughtful, searching player...these accounts... — BBC Music Magazine, September 2010, More…

Release Date: 12th Jul 2010
Catalogue No: HMC902053/55
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Series: Paul Lewis Beethoven
Length: 2 hours 56 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

12th July 2010
Gramophone Magazine

September 2010

Disc of the Month

In stock

Usually despatched within 1 working day

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15

38:18

Album only

I. Allegro con brio

17:44

Album only

II. Largo

11:41

$1.40

$1.75

$2.05

III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando

8:53

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19

29:25

$3.80

$4.75

$5.55

I. Allegro con brio

14:26

$1.60

$2.00

$2.35

III. Rondo. Molto Allegro

6:10

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

II. Adagio

8:49

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

36:04

Album only

I. Allegro con brio

17:03

Album only

II. Largo

9:30

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

III. Rondo. Allegro

9:31

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

33:23

Album only

I. Allegro moderato

18:33

Album only

II. Andante con moto

4:50

$1.00

$1.25

$1.45

III. Rondo vivace

10:00

$1.40

$1.75

$2.05

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'

38:50

Album only

I. Allegro

20:17

Album only

II. Adagio un poco mosso

8:08

$1.20

$1.50

$1.75

III. Allegro ma non troppo

10:25

$1.40

$1.75

$2.05

About
Reviews
Videos
Explore

About

Recording of the Week, Beethoven - Paul Lewis and the BBC Proms

12th July 2010

At the press launch of this year’s BBC Proms season Roger Wright (Controller, BBC Radio 3 and Director of the BBC Proms) announced that for the first time ever, one pianist, Paul Lewis, would be performing all Beethoven’s Piano Concertos, albeit with different orchestras.

His complete set of the Beethoven sonatas enjoyed extraordinary acclaim in the UK, culminating in the prestigious ‘Recording of the Year’ award from Gramophone magazine for the fourth volume in 2008. Encouraged by what has now become a worldwide success, Paul Lewis has chosen to turn his attention to the five piano concertos with these distinguished partners. Recorded between July 2009 and March 2010, these interpretations paint a portrait of Beethoven full of light and shade.

Reviews

September 2010

This new set of the Beethoven concertos is interestingly different in emphasis, in that whereas I had previously thought of Lewis as primarily a thoughtful, searching player...these accounts score more strongly on extroversion, combativeness vis-a-vis the lively accompaniments of the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Jiri Belohlávek, and even mischief.

September 2010

Lewis's partnership with Jiri Belohlávek is an ideal match of musical feeling, vigour and refinement...Throughout the cycle Lewis is enviably and naturally true to his own distinctive lights, his unassuming but shining musicianship always paramount...you return refreshed and with a renewed sense of Beethoven's range and beauty...This is a cycle to live with and revisit.

October 2010

Lewis's handling of the solo parts is refreshing, imaginative and responsive to the shifting moods of the music in these concertos, as well as technically impeccable

16th July 2010

Beethoven’s spectrum of utterance in this concerto canon, broadened further in the Fourth and Fifth, is something of which this set makes you supremely aware. This is a superb set in which Lewis asserts his own inspiring voice together with his mature insight into Beethoven’s creative mind.

9th July 2010

Lewis isn’t a “look at me” pianist. No barnstorming rage; no cute puppy antics. His simple goal is to get inside the music and propel it outwards, heart and soul, letting it speak without hindrance...Belohlávek shapes the orchestra’s contribution with almost as much care...Here is high-quality music-making, subtle but authoritative, made to last.

Record Review 23rd July 2017

Paul Lewis, a highly intelligent player, with a kind of nervous intensity and brilliant insightfulness, very much able to hone in on detail, a very strong sense of line

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5

3 CDs

Downloads

Contents

Recording of the Week, Beethoven - Paul Lewis and the BBC Proms