Walter Gieseking, Herbert von Karajan, Artur Rother - Beethoven: Piano Concertos (1944, 1951) [2013]
![Walter Gieseking, Herbert von Karajan, Artur Rother - Beethoven: Piano Concertos (1944, 1951) [2013]](https://www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2026-02/1770018816_pasc390-large.jpg)
BAND/ARTIST: Walter Gieseking, Herbert von Karajan, Artur Rother
- Title: Beethoven: Piano Concertos
- Year Of Release: 1944, 1951 [2013]
- Label: Pristine [PASC390]
- Genre: Classical
- Quality: FLAC (*tracks)
- Total Time: 01:08:21
- Total Size: 292 mb (+3%rec.)
- WebSite: Album Preview
Ground-breaking early genuine stereo Beethoven recording remastered!
"Gieseking, at the height of his powers in 1944, is deft, delicate, infinitely resourceful" - Gramophone
The 1944 recording of Walter Gieseking playing brilliantly Beethoven's Emperor Concerto sits among a select few stereo recordings made experimentally prior to the 1950s, the earliest dating back to the early 1930s. It's one of the only complete works recorded in stereo prior to the general adoption of stereo recording in the 1950s - only one other stereo recording (of a single movement) is known to survive from 1944, also recorded in Germany. It was the development of tape recording which made stereo technically feasible - not until 1958 would disc replay catch up - and the Germans were a considerable way ahead on tape technology by 1944. Even so, the high levels of hiss on this recording - unsurprising given that each channel has half the tape width and thus double the noise levels - shows much was left to be done.
As well as improvements to the sometimes wayward and ill-defined stereo imagery, I've sought to reduce tape hiss, enhance the overall tonal balance, flatten out wow and flutter, and give this historic recording as good an outing as it's ever had. The 1951 EMI studio recording of the Fourth Concerto was of course made in easier conditions (no anti-aircraft fire in the background either!) but was far from perfect. I've been able to fill out the orchestral tone considerably, whilst cutting tape hiss back. The piano tone remains mellow and warm, but occasionally less than brilliant during louder passages, where I've had to fight against some peak distortion, though this is happily insufficient to distract from what is a truly superb account of the concerto.
Andrew Rose
Tracks:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
Personnel:
Walter Gieseking piano
Berlin Reichsender Orchestra
Artur Rother conductor
Philharmonia Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan conductor
![Walter Gieseking, Herbert von Karajan, Artur Rother - Beethoven: Piano Concertos (1944, 1951) [2013]](https://www.dibpic.com/uploads/posts/2026-02/1770018817_back.jpg)
"Gieseking, at the height of his powers in 1944, is deft, delicate, infinitely resourceful" - Gramophone
The 1944 recording of Walter Gieseking playing brilliantly Beethoven's Emperor Concerto sits among a select few stereo recordings made experimentally prior to the 1950s, the earliest dating back to the early 1930s. It's one of the only complete works recorded in stereo prior to the general adoption of stereo recording in the 1950s - only one other stereo recording (of a single movement) is known to survive from 1944, also recorded in Germany. It was the development of tape recording which made stereo technically feasible - not until 1958 would disc replay catch up - and the Germans were a considerable way ahead on tape technology by 1944. Even so, the high levels of hiss on this recording - unsurprising given that each channel has half the tape width and thus double the noise levels - shows much was left to be done.
As well as improvements to the sometimes wayward and ill-defined stereo imagery, I've sought to reduce tape hiss, enhance the overall tonal balance, flatten out wow and flutter, and give this historic recording as good an outing as it's ever had. The 1951 EMI studio recording of the Fourth Concerto was of course made in easier conditions (no anti-aircraft fire in the background either!) but was far from perfect. I've been able to fill out the orchestral tone considerably, whilst cutting tape hiss back. The piano tone remains mellow and warm, but occasionally less than brilliant during louder passages, where I've had to fight against some peak distortion, though this is happily insufficient to distract from what is a truly superb account of the concerto.
Andrew Rose
Tracks:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
Personnel:
Walter Gieseking piano
Berlin Reichsender Orchestra
Artur Rother conductor
Philharmonia Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan conductor
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