The name of Irish pianist John O'Conor hasn't achieved household familiarity, and Andreas Delfs is known to U.S. audiences as the conductor of the regionally heard Milwaukee Symphony. Marquee names aren't necessary for distinctive Beethoven, however, and the two concerto performances here are indeed distinctive. They might not have stood out 40 or 50 years ago, when studious Middle Europeans like Wilhelm Kempff (with whom O'Conor studied) and Walter Gieseking ruled the classical sales charts, but later Ashkhenazian muscle ...
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The name of Irish pianist John O'Conor hasn't achieved household familiarity, and Andreas Delfs is known to U.S. audiences as the conductor of the regionally heard Milwaukee Symphony. Marquee names aren't necessary for distinctive Beethoven, however, and the two concerto performances here are indeed distinctive. They might not have stood out 40 or 50 years ago, when studious Middle Europeans like Wilhelm Kempff (with whom O'Conor studied) and Walter Gieseking ruled the classical sales charts, but later Ashkhenazian muscle became the order of the day. If you are looking for a big, glittering peroration at the beginning of the Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 ("Emperor"), this is not the performance for you; O'Conor tends instead to get inside the details of the opening flourish, giving it a somewhat fantasy-like effect, rather than pounding it out. His tempos are generally on the brisk side, and he accents unusual details by pushing them slightly. With all these caveats borne in mind, the...
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Add this copy of Beethoven: Piano Concerto Nos 2 & 5 Emperor to cart. $12.37, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Emerald rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Telarc.
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