Ludwig van Beethoven: The Piano Concertos (CD Review)

by Karl Nehring

(CD 1) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, op. 19; No. 1 in C major, op. 15; (CD 2) No. 3 in c minor, op. 37; No. 4 in G major, op. 58; (CD 3) No. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73. Alexander Lonquich, piano; Münchener Kammerorchester. ECM New Series 2753-55 

I have occasionally noted in previous reviews how exciting and rewarding it is to listen to enjoyable music by a composer completely unknown to me. To discover such “hidden treasure” and then be able to pass along a recommendation to others brings me great joy. In the case of this release, neither the composer nor the music is unknown to me – nor to the overwhelming majority of those music fans reading this – so what about this release is completely unknown? It’s the performer, the German pianist and conductor Alexander Lonquich (b. 1960), who for these performances conducts the Munich Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard. For the enclosed booklet, he also contributes a thoughtful essay that offers insights about each of the concertos, noting, for example some of the Mozartean influences on the first three, and how Beethoven, dissatisfied with his first effort at composing a concerto for piano, had it published second -- which is why Lonquich has chosen to preserve true chronological order in this set by placing No. 2 before No. 1.

 

The performances in this box set are from 2022. Giving backgound, however, Lonquich writes, "for years, I have repeatedly had the pleasure of realizing Beethoven projects with the Munich Chamber Orchestra until finally the time came to perform the entire cycle of Beethoven’s completed piano concertos on a single evening in autumn 2019. The resulting, very special experience, for performers and listeners alike, is reflected in these recordings. The usually common placement of the individual works in the context of a symphony concert all too often runs the risk of reinforcing what is already traditional, while this chronological order draws attention to stylistic leaps in in the compositions and allows the listener to experience Beethoven’s development as the author of these outward-looking creations that illustrate his pianistic virtuosity between 1790 and 1809… It was and is our incentive, also in the present recordings, to collectively trace Beethoven’s long developmental process step by step and to allow such an experience to merge into a convincing overall dramaturgy. The joy of being able to expose ourselves again and again to the presence and presentness of this music is immeasurable.”

It's an interesting set that offers a unique perspective on Beethoven’s art. The smaller forces involved, combined with the rather distant recording perspective, draw the listener into the softer passages rather than place an emphasis on the louder passages. The overall effect is that of a more personal, intimate listening experience. This is not just another routine run-through of these familiar works, and for that reason, it is well worth an audition.