Beethoven Piano Concertos 3, 4 & 5 - The Herald

The most intriguing thing about this magnificent set of Beethoven's last three piano concertos is that it actually comes off. Artur Pizarro approaches the concertos from an extreme pole of delicate poeticism and refinement; Sir Charles Mackerras, however, is a driving and punchy Beethovenian. It was he who used the word barbaric about Ludwig van, and you can hear it here. Yet without either musician compromising on his instincts, they produce electric and integrated Beethoven performances. A great set - and the good news is that, with the big three concertos in the bag, the team is now looking at ways of completing the cycle.