Backhaus Beethoven Edition Vol. 9: Piano Concerto No. 1 & Diabelli Variations (1954–1958 Remaster)

Description

overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fBEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15BEETHOVEN Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120Recorded in 1954 and 1958
Total duration: 76:51
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, conductor
578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fGramophone Historic Review578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fHis performance of the “Diabelli” variations is a magnificent achievement578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fHaving completed the whole cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas Backhaus will now, I imagine, and hope, add the finest of the remaining keyboard works.
His performance of the “Diabelli” variations is a magnificent achievement: and it says a great deal for Katchen’s much more youthful art that his own performance stands up so well to it and may even be considered, in the final variation (and the wonderful modulation that leads up to it) more spiritually radiant. But Katchen, naturally, does not command the grand manner of Backhaus, which is of the master’s time ?nd not of to-day ; nor can one expect of him the maturity born of a lifelong experiencv. Comparisons, therefore, would be, as is said, odious.
There is an astonishingly youthful vigour in Backhaus’ playing, a tremendous sense of enjoyment in the formidable task of bringing the great work to life, and a moving sensitivity in those variations that call for it, particularly in the lovely Chopinesque Variation (No. 31). I must also single out the superbly clear and vital playing of the following fugal variation. The piano tone is on a level with the best we have had in the Backhaus series. 
A.R. – The Gramophone, April 1955578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples/PASC326.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer’s Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f

“A magnificent achievement”, played with “an astonishingly youthful vigour” – Gramophone

Backhaus’s stereo Diabelli Variations and Piano Concerto No. 1 in new 32-bit Pristine XR remasters

Tonally the Piano Concerto recording was good in this stereoversion (possibly offering a different tone to the mono release reviewedabove), if somewhat hissy, and this restoration has concentrated mainly onreducing the latter as well as correcting some quite significant pitchanomalies at edit points throughout the recording. These caused jumps in thepitch of the recording were edits from different takes had been made or up to aquarter-semitone at a time, helping make some edits sound particularly clunky.

The recording was also rather sharp, more so than the DiabelliVariations, which managed a far more even and consistent A=445Hz. Here myefforts were concentrated on lifting the veil on a somewhat thin andboxy-sounding instrument, coupled with the removal or suppression of a largenumber of extraneous clicking noises which appeared to emanate from thekeyboard itself.

Andrew Rose

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Wilhelm Backhaus piano
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt conductor
Recorded 16-22 April 1958
First issued as Decca BR 3001
Producer Erik Smith
Engineer Alan Abel
Recorded at Sofiensaal, Vienna
BEETHOVEN Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120
Wilhelm Backhaus piano
Recorded 14-20 October 1954
First issued as Decca LXT 5016
Producer Victor Olof
Engineer Roy Wallace
Recorded at Victoria Hall, Geneva
XR remastering by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio, February 2012
Cover artwork based on a photograph of Wilhelm Backhaus
Total duration: 76:51
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This is the first disc in a new Decca series called “Immortal Masterpieces”. BRs have a bright blue label (the colour of old Columbia LXs) and come packed as usual in the stiff polythene envelope and stiff glossy sleeve—this one has a small coloured reproduction of “Rocky Landscape” by Brill—but without programme notes on the back. Most of the first 10 BRs are old friends, but Backhaus’s version of the C major concerto appears to be new. 
The concerto has usually been issued as a 12-incher, mostly with a fill-up. Serkin, in a now deleted Philips, got it on to ten-inch format by galloping the first movement; Backhaus doesn’t need to do that—he and Isserstedt take it rather slower than the fine Solomon/Menges (H.M.V. ALP 1583) performance. But Backhaus plays the Largo as a rather Schubertian Andante, which no doubt helps him to get the last two movements on to one side. 
It’s a dashing, mettlesome performance, well poised; I had forgotten how lively and companionable a pianist Backhaus could be (I’m not a fan of his readings of the last three concertos), and the performance reminded me that he used to be an admired Mozart pianist. The florid runs and the sense of shape are particularly good; I only didn’t care for the extensive meno mosso which Backhaus declares before the Adagio in the coda of the last movement— it overweights the music. 
The piano tone is inclined to glare at you, and the range of orchestral tone is a bit small. Perhaps that explains the popular label; musically it’s an agreeable performance, smartly accompanied.. 
W.S.M. – The Gramophone, November 1959
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