Rudolf Serkin, Seiji Ozawa - Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos (1984)

It is no secret that there are quite a few excellent recordings of the Five Beethoven Piano Concertos available -- especially Brendel (both sets with Chicago and Vienna), Kempff, Perahia, Schiff, the list goes on. However, what I find particularly stunning about Rudolf Serkin's readings of the Beethoven Concertos is the pure human element he somehow employs in his playing and at the same time his ability to transcend that same element. Serkin's performances are, as I said in my subject line, brilliant. He (and I'm a HUGE Serkin fan, by the way) delivers performances that are inspiring, reliable, beautiful and wonderfully thought-provoking. In a word, his playing is pianistic, which I will dare say was Beethoven's intent with these works (after all, it is indeed well known that Beethoven was the most esteemed pianist during his time). Serkin is certainly in his comfort zone and these recording show it - he was a master at interpreting and performing 18th century works. Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra deliver magnificient readings -- beautiful, bold, and elegant playing. Telarc's digital recording (although early 1980s digital) is marvelous. This recording is a must have for Beethoven fans, pianists, and especially those of us beholden to the art of Rudolf Serkin!