Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1, 3 & 4 (CD review)

John O'Conor, piano; Andreas Delfs, London Symphony Orchestra.  Telarc 2CD-80704 (2-disc set).

Irish pianist John O'Conor is a most poetic instrumental interpreter. Here, his Beethoven is best in the slower movements, where his lyricism has the upper hand, but he invests the outer movements with plenty of gusto as well. It's just that even when he's letting loose, he's still singularly rhapsodic, gently caressing each note and coaxing a freshly idyllic feeling from the most oft-heard passages.

In other words, O'Conor produces some lovely Beethoven. This is most evident in the First Concerto, with its lively, joyous tunes, and in its extreme opposite, the Fourth Concerto, with its dark, somber, sometimes solemnly introspective undertones. Obviously, O'Conor is in command of both worlds and both moods. Quite lovely, really.

Unlike O'Conor's playing, though, which has an immediately gratifying effect, Telarc's sound has to grow on you. It hasn't quite the warmth I expected in the mid bass, and it seems a little hard and forward in the upper midrange, producing a feeling of leanness that might not be fair. It's not really lean, nor does it lack warmth. They are simply first impressions. I also thought there was a little too much orchestral depth behind the piano, which was quite surprising since usually I find too little in most recordings, but that feeling quickly disappeared, too, as I got more into the music and the performances.

While maybe this isn't the most transparent sound I've ever heard, it is natural enough to enhance one's enjoyment of the music well enough, making these performances from John O'Conor and the LSO serious contenders for one's Beethoven bucks.  O'Conor is not brawny or clever or grand or coy, but I guarantee you'll be swept away by his music making.

JJP