Favorite Beethoven Concerto!

[arensky]

Vote for your favorite and feel free to engage in lively debate and discussion concerning these pieces, and memorable or horrifying recordings and performances...

Inquiring minds want to know...

[lisztisforkids]

The second movement of the 4 concerto is truly a masterpiece, imagine a dialogue between the rulers of the underworld and a poor person beging for the soul of a loved one and the journey out of hell.

[arensky]

The second movement of the 4 concerto is truly a masterpiece, imagine a dialogue between the rulers of the underworld and a poor person beging for the soul of a loved one and the journey out of hell.

That would be Orpheus in the underworld, I've heard this movement described that way, but was that Beethoven's idea, or some critic's? It fits beautifully, in any case. It' seems definite to me that the strings are one thing, something that is threatening, and the piano is some kind of frightened but defiant protaganist....

[brewtality]

The third concerto in C minor is my favourite. The best recording I've heard is Arthur Rubinstein live in 1943. I also love the busoni modified cadenza. I also like Alkan's transcription of this for solo piano, Hamelin plays the hell outta this; I like the Munich 97 recording better than Wigmore hall. The Alkan cadenza is cool but I prefer the Busoni.

The fourth is probably my second favourite, I like Hofmann's playing in this (favourite is live with Mitropoulos), I do like the normal cadenza and I wish Hofmann had played it in at least one of his recordings (hofmann plays the Reinecke cadenza). Noel Mewton-Wood also made a fantastic recording of this, his tone at the start of the third movement is wonderful.

[rob47]

2nd mvt. of 5 is wikid, but the 1st mvt. of 4 dominates all.

[arensky]

My favorite is the 4th Concerto op.58. It's like flying through gold clouds, with no earth below; heaven I guess. The 2nd mvt. I described above. The 3rd mvt. is a b#$%chen hoedown, it's like the last movt. of the 7th Symphony, this big dance scene, somewhere in an earthy but beautiful countryside. Hard to describe these things....

My favorite recordings....in no particular order

Hoffman 1941 (even with the stupid Reinecke cadenza)
Weissenberg (as much or more for Karajan and the Berlin Phil)
Ashkenazy (he's always good)
Casadesus (so clean, so right...)
Schnabel (not so clean, but oh so right)
Serkin (kind of dry, but good athletic energy)

[Waldszenen]

5 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 2

In that order.

[raffyplayspiano]

lol, i actually like the 4th one alot, especially the first movement, but the second concerto i also enjoy alot.  then the third. 

  raffy

[tolkien]

5 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 2

In that order.

Same here!

[arensky]

This poll has been open for two weeks, and 18 votes have been cast; Concerto #4 has trampled the opposition, claiming 13 of these votes, with the Concerto #5 "Emperor" a very distant second with 4 votes, and Concerto #3 has one vote. I expected Concerto #5 to be in 1st place, by a modest margin, with Concerto 4 in second place and Concerto #3 in third; Concerto #4 is my favorite, but I am surprised, has the "Emperor" become hackneyed? Your thoughts...

VOTE!!! It's your Repertoire!    .....

[brewtality]

This poll has been open for two weeks, and 18 votes have been cast; Concerto #4 has trampled the opposition, claiming 13 of these votes, with the Concerto #5 "Emperor" a very distant second with 4 votes, and Concerto #3 has one vote. I expected Concerto #5 to be in 1st place, by a modest margin, with Concerto 4 in second place and Concerto #3 in third; Concerto #4 is my favorite, but I am surprised, has the "Emperor" become hackneyed? Your thoughts...

VOTE!!! It's your Repertoire!    .....

The Emperor only interests me in the third movement. The fourth is good, but the third is the best imo.

[stevie]

no4 is my favourite, 5 close behind, and 3 is great but the first movement is wesome while the rest of it isnt as good IMO....i love the alkan transcription more than the original concerto.

[kghayesh]

I love the 2nd very much, The 2nd movement is one of the best piano/orchestra music i've ever heard. Just listen to Ashkenazy's recording of it and you'll know why.

[arensky]

                                     ba ba ba BUMP!   

[jehangircama]

i only prefer no.5 over no.4 because all three mvts are nice compared to 4 where i love the 3rd mvt. listening to it now!

[apion]

Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto is one of the greatest compositions of any genre.  It's motivic lyracism in the 1st movement is dauntingly unparalled (To this day, Brahms can't believe how perfect it is).  The 2nd mvt is otherworldly, and the finale offers many virtuosic challenges.  AWESOME CONCERTO (almost as great as the Brahms concerti).

[mrchops10]

To this day, Brahms can't believe how perfect it is. 

Oh, does he still think that? It's been a while since I talked to Johannes.

[arensky]

                                       Important topic! 

[apion]

Oh, does he still think that? It's been a while since I talked to Johannes.

In fact, as best I know, Brahms weeps upon each and every listening to Beethoven's 4th PC .......

[contrapunctus]

but I am surprised, has the "Emperor" become hackneyed? Your thoughts...

VOTE!!! It's your Repertoire!    .....

Every thing with a name is hackneyed in this forum.