Who should hear the disc in this box set called Emil Gilels Plays Beethoven? The collector who has heard the recordings of Gilels' superb performances of Beethoven's Sonatas for Deutsche Grammophon and of Gilels' superlative performances of Beethoven's Concertos with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra? Certainly: Gilels was at the peak of his technical power when these recordings were made in the '60s, '70s, and '80s and the fact that they are live adds immeasurably to the immediacy of his overwhelming interpretations ...
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Who should hear the disc in this box set called Emil Gilels Plays Beethoven? The collector who has heard the recordings of Gilels' superb performances of Beethoven's Sonatas for Deutsche Grammophon and of Gilels' superlative performances of Beethoven's Concertos with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra? Certainly: Gilels was at the peak of his technical power when these recordings were made in the '60s, '70s, and '80s and the fact that they are live adds immeasurably to the immediacy of his overwhelming interpretations. But how about the casual listener who is merely looking for a compendium of Beethoven piano music? Probably: this collection includes all five of Beethoven's Piano Concerto plus five of Beethoven's best piano sonatas with nicknames along with as many of his best sonatas without nicknames in performances that are as convincing and compelling as the best ever recorded. How's the sound? The box describes these recordings as "historic Russian archives" and the description fits: they...
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