Beethoven. Brahms - Triple Concerto (Beethoven), Double Concerto in A minor, Op 102 (Brahms)

David Oistrakh vn Mstislav Rostropovich vc Sviatoslav Richter pf Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan; 
Cleveland Orchestra / George Szell

EMI 566902-2 Buy now

(70’ · ADD) 

Recorded 1969.

These are illustrious performances and make a splendid coupling. EMI planned for a long time to assemble this starry line-up of soloists, conductor and orchestra for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, and the artists don’t disappoint, bringing sweetness as well as strength to a work which in lesser hands can sound clumsy and long-winded. The recording, made in the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, in 1969, is warm, spacious and well balanced, placing the soloists in a gentle spotlight. The account of Brahms’s Double Concerto is perhaps the most powerful recorded performance since the days of Heifetz and Feuermann or Thibaud and Casals. The recording has come up extremely well in this remastering: although the sound isn’t as smooth as can be achieved nowadays, this is soon forgotten, and you’re caught up in the magnificent music-making.