Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 3

Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos 3 & 4
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Artist: Maria João Pires, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding
Genre: Classical
Label: Onyx

Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires does things her own way. These two Beethoven piano concertos are long in her repertoire, but Pires didn't record them until last October, when she was 69. And her partner in the venture, English conductor Daniel Harding, is in many ways her musical opposite. Harding's approach draws attention to itself in the moulding of phrases, the balancing of instrumental groups within the orchestra, even down to the trajectory and duration of single bow strokes. Pires is every bit as detailed in her responses, but hers is much more the kind of art that hides art, giving the impression of naturally easy musical flow. In the event, the two complement each other very effectively. url.ie/dzi7

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan is a music critic and Irish Times contributor