[.ca] Pno Cto 5/Triple Cto (W/New Pa

Brilliant Beethoven:
In the 1950s and 60s, CBS/Columbia (now Sony Classical) had the great fortune to have three of America's best orchestras and their conductors on their recording roster -- Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. Nearly a half-century later, only Leonard Bernstein remains a name that even the non-classical music world knows. But in the world of the compact disc, this is a wonderful thing, because while Leonard Bernstein analog stereo recordings sell at mid-price, classic performances by Ormandy and Szell are regulated to the budget line. Well, my friends there is justice in the world because the vast majority of these "budget line" recordings are not only amazing, but some are still considered definitive more than 40 years later! One such definitive performance is this Szell recording of Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano Concerto with Leon Fleisher, and in fact the cycle of all five concertos is still something at which to marvel. Fleisher bows out on the Triple Concerto to be replaced by Eugene Istomin, and along with violinist Isaac Stern and cellist Leonard Rose they record a memorable performance. Never did something of such high quality come at such a small price. Enjoy!

• I. Allegro - Leon Fleisher
• II. Adagio Un Poco Moto - Leon Fleisher
• III. Rondo. Allegro - Leon Fleisher
• I. Allegro - Eugene Istomin
• II. Largo - Eugene Istomin
• III. Rondo Alla Polacca - Eugene Istomin