I asked our friend from the Chicago Tribune to share some of his favorite Beethoven with us…thanks John!
John von Rhein’s “desert island” list of top 10 Beethoven audio recordings:
1. Nine Symphonies. Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique/John Eliot Gardiner (DG Arkiv).
2. Five Piano Concertos. Richard Goode, piano; Budapest Festival Orchestra/Ivan Fischer (Nonesuch).
3. Violin Concerto. Itzhak Perlman, violin; Philharmonia Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini (EMI).
4. 32 Piano Sonatas. Wilhelm Kempff, piano (DG). The great German pianist recorded the cycle twice, once in mono, the second time in stereo. Both sets are highly recommended, but I prefer the earlier mono set for its extra electricity.
5. 16 String Quartets. Quartetto Italiano (Philips).
6. “Fidelio.” Christa Ludwig, Jon Vickers, Gottlob Frick; Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Otto Klemperer (EMI).
7. 10 Violin Sonatas. David Oistrakh, violin; Lev Oborin, piano (Philips).
8. Triple Concerto. David Oistrakh, violin; Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Sviatoslav Richter, piano; Berlin Philharmonic/Herbert von Karajan (EMI).
9. Piano Trios. Daniel Barenboim, piano; Pinchas Zukerman, violin; Jacqueline Du Pre, cello (EMI).
10. “Missa Solemnis.” Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner (Arkiv).
What are some of your favorite Beethoven recordings? Please let us know.
