Emil Gilels plays Tchaikovsky & Beethoven

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Breathtaking pianism from Gilels: Tchaikovsky's Concerto No. 2 is titanic and tender by turns, and his opening phrase of Beethoven Four is near-miraculous. Ropey sound quality, but worth it. — BBC Music Magazine, January 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 30th Aug 2011
Catalogue No: ICAC5032
Label: ica classics
Series: Legacy
Length: 71 minutes

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

Work length35:14

$8.00

$10.30

Emil Gilels (piano)
Hallé Orchestra
Sir John Barbirolli
Recorded: 23 February 1959
Recording Venue: BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, United Kingdom

I. Allegro moderato

Track length18:36

$4.00

$5.15

II. Andante con moto

Track length6:18

$1.00

$1.30

III. Rondo. Vivace

Track length10:20

$3.00

$3.85

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44

Work length36:09

Album only

Emil Gilels (piano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Kirill Kondrashin
Recorded: 13 September 1966
Recording Venue: Edinburgh Festival, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I. Allegro brillante

Track length20:28

Album only

II. Andante non troppo

Track length8:07

$2.00

$2.60

III. Allegro con fuoco

Track length7:34

$2.00

$2.60

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Emil Gilels (1916–1985), along with Sviatoslav Richter, was one of the most celebrated pianists of the 20th century.

These rare broadcast recordings make their first appearance on CD.

The live recording of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 from the 1966 Edinburgh Festival together with the distinguished accompaniment of Sir John Barbirolli produce a performance of great poetry, imagination and power. Gilels had a wonderful, discriminating ear and throughout the concerto brings a chamber music quality to his playing when the score demands.

Gilels recorded the work in the studio in 1957 and 1968 but there are very few live performances available where the pianist is ‘caught on the wing’ in good sound.

The Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.2 in the abridged version by Siloti from 1959 brings out Gilels’ incredible technique and virtuosity (The New York Times dubbed him ‘the little giant’) with Kirill Kondrashin transforming the LPO into an authentic Russian-sounding orchestra.

Ambient Mastering adds an extra dimension to these distinguished performances recorded over 45 years ago.

Reviews

January 2012

Breathtaking pianism from Gilels: Tchaikovsky's Concerto No. 2 is titanic and tender by turns, and his opening phrase of Beethoven Four is near-miraculous. Ropey sound quality, but worth it.

22nd September 2011

there is no doubting the poetry and the intensity that Gilels invests in the solo part. He was never a pianist to flaunt any degree of flamboyance, but the quality that comes through in this performance is the focus and the seriousness of his interpretation, his chamber-music-like relationship with the orchestra, the gleaming tone that he could elicit from the keyboard, and the range of emotion that he could describe

Emil Gilels plays Tchaikovsky & Beethoven

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