Lupu: Beethoven – The Piano Concertos, 3 Sonatas, 2 Rondos (4 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Radu Lupu
Orchestra: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Zubin Mehta
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 4 CD box set
Format: APE (tracks)
Label: Decca
Size: 960 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 1. Allegro con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 2. Largo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 3. Rondo: Allegro scherzando
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 1. Allegro con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 2. Adagio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 3. Rondo: Molto allegro
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Rondos (2) for piano, Op. 51 No. 1 in C major
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Rondos (2) for piano, Op. 51 No. 2 in G major
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 1. Allegro con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 2. Largo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 3. Rondo: Allegro
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 1. Allegro moderato
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 2. Andante con moto
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 3. Rondo: Vivace
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (“Emperor”), Op. 73 1. Allegro
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (“Emperor”), Op. 73 2. Adagio un poco mosso
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major (“Emperor”), Op. 73 3. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
with Radu Lupu
Conducted by Zubin Mehta

# Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (“Moonlight”), Op. 27/2 1. Adagio sostenuto
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (“Moonlight”), Op. 27/2 2. Allegretto
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (“Moonlight”), Op. 27/2 3. Presto agitato
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor (“Pathétique”), Op. 13 1. Grave – Allegro molto e con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor (“Pathétique”), Op. 13 2. Adagio cantabile
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor (“Pathétique”), Op. 13 3. Rondo: Allegro
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major (“Waldstein”), Op. 53 1. Allegro con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major (“Waldstein”), Op. 53 2. Introduzione: Molto adagio –
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major (“Waldstein”), Op. 53 3. Rondo: Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Variations (32) on an original theme for piano in C minor, WoO 80
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Radu Lupu

# Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, Op. 16 1. Grave – Allegro ma non troppo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Han de Vries, George Pieterson, Radu Lupu, Vicente Zarzo, Brian Pollard

# Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, Op. 16 2. Andante cantabile
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Han de Vries, George Pieterson, Radu Lupu, Vicente Zarzo, Brian Pollard

# Quintet for piano, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon in E flat major, Op. 16 3. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Han de Vries, George Pieterson, Radu Lupu, Vicente Zarzo, Brian Pollard

Disc 1:
01. Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 – 1. Allegro con brio
02. Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 – 2. Largo 11:03
03. Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 – 3. Rondo (Allegro scherzando)
04. Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.19 – 1. Allegro con brio
05. Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.19 – 2. Adagio
06. Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.19 – 3. Rondo (Molto allegro)
07. Rondo in C, Op.51, No.1
08. Rondo in G, Op.51, No.2

Disc 2:
01. Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 – 1. Allegro con brio
02. Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 – 2. Largo
03. Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 – 3. Rondo (Allegro)
04. Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58 – 1. Allegro moderato
05. Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58 – 2. Andante con moto
06. Piano Concerto No.4 in G, Op.58 – 3. Rondo (Vivace)

Disc 3:
01. Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -“Emperor” – 1. Allegro
02. Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -“Emperor” – 2. Adagio un poco mosso
03. Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -“Emperor” – 3. Rondo (Allegro)
04. Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -“Moonlight” – 1. Adagio sostenuto
05. Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -“Moonlight” – 2. Allegretto
06. Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 -“Moonlight” – 3. Presto agitato
07. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 -“Pathétique” – 1. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
08. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 -“Pathétique” – 2. Adagio cantabile
09. Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 -“Pathétique” – 3. Rondo (Allegro)

Disc 4:
01. Piano Sonata No.21 in C, Op.53 -“Waldstein” – 1. Allegro con brio
02. Piano Sonata No.21 in C, Op.53 -“Waldstein” – 2. Introduzione (Adagio molto)
03. Piano Sonata No.21 in C, Op.53 -“Waldstein” – 3. Rondo (Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo)
04. 32 Piano Variations in C minor on an original theme, WoO 80
05. Quintet for Piano and Wind Quartet in E flat, Op.16 – 1. Grave – Allegro ma non troppo
06. Quintet for Piano and Wind Quartet in E flat, Op.16 – 2. Andante cantabile
07. Quintet for Piano and Wind Quartet in E flat, Op.16 – 3. Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo)

Best 4th ever

I have never, ever heard anyone play Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto like Lupu does. Maybe that’s because when Lupu recorded it, he was close to the age Beethoven was when he wrote it. It is not a liquidy, smooth, trilly piece; it was written when Beethoven’s deafness was closing in on him. He was angry and frustrated. I’ve often thought that the second movement WAS the deafness drowning out his sound. Whatever the truth is, Lupu nails it, for me.