Beethoven Concerto 3 Ending

[warburtonj]

The music for the ending of Beethoven Piano Concerto 3 has an alternating descending sequence as shown at the link below.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7vcykcmiowf053n/20220513_213513.jpg?dl=0

I've noticed that some pianists don't bother with the alternating and just play it straight. 

Example of Paul Lewis playing it straight at 35:40

Example of Zimerman playing it alternating at 39:16

Also Paul Lewis plays the final chords with the Orchestra but Zimerman doesn't.

Why is there a difference in how it is played?

[lelle]

That's odd, I don't know why Paul Lewis would do that. What other examples of pianists not playing broken octaves have you found?

[perfect_pitch]

Also Paul Lewis plays the final chords with the Orchestra but Zimerman doesn't.

I think some pianists hate the orchestra having the last 'word' per say, and like to play them to be part of the ending.

Could it be about ego?

[lelle]

I think some pianists hate the orchestra having the last 'word' per say, and like to play them to be part of the ending.

Could it be about ego?

Ego? In a pianist? Surely not!

[warburtonj]

I think at 39:50 this version is alternating

But most others I've seen seem to play it straight like Paul Lewis (Barenboim, Rubinstein, Uchida)

Maybe there are different versions of the sheet music??

[lelle]

Yeah that's really odd honestly. Someetimes people play broken octaves really tight together so to speak, so that the lower and upper note are played really quickly and the wait is longer before the next broken octave if that makes sense. But I'd have to hear the recordings you're talking about to determine that, can you link them?