Beethoven Piano Concert No 4 - 1.mov part 1 - Wilhelm Backhaus - Karl Böhm - 1961

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WILHELM BACKHAUS & KARL BÖHM

Concerto for Piano no 4 in G major, Op. 58 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Wilhelm Backhaus (Piano)
Conductor: Karl Böhm
Orchestra/Ensemble: Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Date of Recording: 3-9/4/1967
Venue: Studio Rosenhügel, Vienna
Period: Classical
Written: 1806; Vienna, Austria


* Backhaus was regarded by many as the greatest interpreter of Beethoven.
* Backhaus and Böhm were friends of nearly forty years' standing and collaborated in concertos by both these composers on many occasions.
* The present performance was among their last. Two years later, Backhaus died, aged 85, after a career of some seventy years.
* Both men were technicians of exceptional brilliance.
* Böhm's command of orchestral ensemble, sonority, textural clarity and subtlety of rhythm was legendary. His musicianship was impeccable, his authority unquestioned.
* A marvellous testament to great Brahms conducting!

Perhaps this DVD will act as a reminder of the power of the medium. These are two fine performances by two great artists - and here we have the opportunity to study their most intimate movements in performance. Piano students will surely glean volumes from Backhaus's sovereign technique; conducting students may find less to admire in Böhm's rather staid manner and gestures, but nevertheless can observe a major podium figure of the past at close quarters.

The set-up in the studio is typical for the period, with the conductor rather isolated from his fellows. In these rather sterile conditions, Backhaus and his accompanists create a sense of wonder. There is a true inevitability about the first movement; on a straight play-through, though, the second movement begins far too abruptly. Instructive to compare this with Backhaus's much earlier performance of 1929/30 with the LSO under Sir Landon Ronald. I used the Andante transfer for this purpose. There the first movement takes 17:06 against the later performance's 17:52, and the orchestra is significantly recessed. There is more delectable impetuosity earlier on, it is true.

Backhaus sits very low, his contact with the piano seemingly enhanced by this. Most importantly, there is a tremendous weight of experience that shines through in 1967. Camera work is acceptable, although the shot of the piano's insides at the first movememt's cadenza is rather fanciful.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wilhelm Backhaus
• Karl Böhm
• Claudio
• Arrau
• Wilhelm
• Kempff

[gfweis]

I don't know what orchestra it is, but it's Bohm on the podium, not Fricsay.

[6lues6rother]

@gfweis

You're right, I changed the description

[augnusdei]

名演中の名演ですね。ありがとう！

[nauticalis]

Well, EuroArts released this record on DVD and on the cover could be read: "Recorded at Studio Rosenhügel, Vienna, 3-9 April 1967". That means, that Backhaus was 83 that time! And, of course, it is Böhm and Wiener Philharmoniker.

[gianlucadd72]

wiener symphoniker

[mpcsp079]

先日質問サイトでＢＡいただいたmpcsp079です。しっかり­矩形に追随していますね。ただ、片側が少し発振ぎみですね。改善­の余地あります。このリンギングは許されるものではないくらい大­きい。よく調整すれば、このようなものは取り除けるはずです。プ­ロの厳しい目からみたいけんです。

[mpcsp079]

最高の名演、ありがとう！

[LKLKILY]

best combination

[marcossaboya]

Karl Böhm, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

[marcossaboya]

Vienna P O

[kandutery]

oh great! the version i want for a long time! thanks!!!!

[watutman]

Wow. We need much more of this conductor / orchestra combination; that is, Bohm / Vienna Phil, on Youtube.