{"product_id":"gieseking-experimental-stereo-beethoven-emperor-plus-concerto-no-4-194451-pasc390","title":"GIESEKING Experimental stereo Beethoven Emperor, plus Concerto No. 4 (1944\/51) - PASC390","description":"overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003ePiano Concerto No. 5 \"Emperor\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eBEETHOVEN \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003ePiano Concerto No. 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded in 1944 in stereo \u0026amp; 1951 in mono\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003e Total duration: 68:20\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eWalter Gieseking \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003epiano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eBerlin Reichsender Orchestra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eArtur Rother \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003econductor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003ePhilharmonia Orchestra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eHerbert von Karajan \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003econductor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFanfare Review578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fA wonderful disc all round578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp class=\"B\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003ePristine Classical has given the avid collector a\nwealth of material, and this issue is no exception. The performance of\nthe “Emperor” was taped in “experimental stereo,” an indication,\nperhaps, of the innovations of the Nazi era, and so it is that the 1944\nNo. 5 presented here is in stereo, but the later 1951 No. 4 is in mono.\n\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"B\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003eThis is in fact Gieseking’s second “Emperor” and\nwas recorded in the autumn of 1944, a decade after the first (Bruno\nWalter\/VPO). To follow were the famous traversals with Karajan (1951,\nKingsway Hall, Philharmonia) and the 1955 Philharmonia (again, but with\nAlceo Galliera at the helm). \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"B\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003ePristine certainly seems to have been successful\nwith hiss. The recorded sound in Berlin is remarkable, excellent pretty\nmuch throughout, especially where the piano is concerned.\nPerformance-wise, the first thing one notices about the orchestra is the\nsense of discipline. Accents are visceral; complementing this, there\nare moments of great beauty from Gieseking. Rother always keeps the\nmomentum going, refusing to relax as some do. Perhaps one should really\npoint to some lost detail around the 10-minute mark; that the recording\ndoes shrink a little around Gieseking’s climactic chords thereafter; and\nthat there is a very careful piano\/orchestra arrival at one notoriously\ntricky spot (12:26 here), where Gieseking actually stops the upward\nscale to co-ordinate with the orchestra’s re-entry. As if finally\nentering into Rother’s approach, the piano’s riposte to the return of\nthe grand opening orchestral chords is very rapid-fire, almost\ndismissive. The luster on the strings of the slow movement is\nmarvelously preserved, and the magic of Gieseking’s rapt playing is\nmagnificent. The Finale brings plenty of fire from both pianist and\norchestra. Gieseking’s fingerwork is terrific and there is plenty of\nenergy all round. Again, there is little space for relaxation, but the\neffect is not of breathlessness. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"Br\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003eThe Columbia Beethoven Fourth with the\nPhilharmonia and Karajan is centrally placed in Gieseking’s discography\nof this work (Böhm\/Dresden Staatskapelle and a Berlin RIAS under Doráti\non one side; Keilberth with WDR Cologne and Philharmonia\/Galliera on the\nother). Just for the meeting of minds of Gieseking and Karajan, it has\nhuge value. Gieseking’s simply gorgeous tone for the opening, coupled\nwith his not too languorous approach, sets the parameters for a very\nspecial reading. Karajan shapes the orchestral exposition impeccably,\nand it is clear that the Philharmonia responds to his every whim.\nGieseking plays with the utmost sensitivity, and this “notiest” of\nBeethoven’s concertos is perfect for him with his mastery of filigree.\nThe strings in the famous slow movement come across with real presence.\nPerhaps it is in the Finale that the differences between pianist and\nconductor come to the fore. Basically, Karajan ensures the Germanic side\nof things is looked after, while Gieseking finds a more delicate space.\nThe very close of the work is not intended to be a sudden surge of\nadrenalin here, and as such it fits in beautifully within the overall\nconception as it leads to Gieseking’s bejeweled final measures. A\nwonderful disc all round. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"Br\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMESb\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eColin Clarke \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThis article originally appeared in Issue 37:3 (Jan\/Feb 2014) of Fanfare Magazine.\u003cspan class=\"TIMESb\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples\/PASC390.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp class=\"bodybig\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 24px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eGround-breaking early genuine stereo Beethoven recording remastered!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"bodymid\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\"Gieseking, at the height of his powers in 1944, is deft, delicate, infinitely resourceful\" - Gramophone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAndrew Rose\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"bodybigblue\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBEETHOVEN\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003ePiano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73, \"Emperor\"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"bodymidarial\"\u003eRecorded Autumn 1944, Berlin\u003cbr\u003e Producer\/engineer: Dr. Hans Joachim von Braunmühle\u003cbr\u003e Transfer from Varèse Sarabande VC 81080\u003cbr\u003e A stereo recording\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"body\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBerlin Reichsender Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eArtur Rother \u003c\/strong\u003e conductor\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"bodybigblue\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBEETHOVEN\u003c\/strong\u003e Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"bodymidarial\"\u003eRecorded 9-11 July 1951, Kingsway Hall, London\u003cbr\u003e Producer: Walter Legge\u003cbr\u003e Engineer: Douglas Larter\u003cbr\u003e First issued as Columbia 78s LX 1443-46\u003cbr\u003e First LP issue Columbia 33C.1007\u003cbr\u003e Presented in Ambient Stereo \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan class=\"body\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhilharmonia Orchestra \u003cbr\u003e Herbert von Karajan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e conductor\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWalter Gieseking\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e piano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eXR remastering by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio, June 2013\u003cbr\u003e Cover artwork based on a photograph of Walter Gieseking\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Total duration: 68:20\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/thumbs\/PASC390.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/PASC390.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fHistoric Reviews578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp class=\"bodybigblue\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREVIEW \u003c\/strong\u003ePiano Concerto No. 5, \"Emperor\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eGieseking, at the height of his powers in 1944, is deft,\ndelicate, infinitely resourceful. From the moment of the piano’s\nre-entry, Gieseking points our attention away from heroic postures\n(though he has strengths in reserve) towards that visionary mood which\nunderwrites the whole of the Violin Concerto and subtly pervades the\nEmperor, too. The recording was made at a concert in Berlin and claims\nto be a genuine stereo recording, a precocious example of the highly\nsophisticated Berlin Radio system and its Magnetophon recorders. Clearly\nit is a stereo recording in the same way that an 1840s Fox Talbot is a\nphotograph, but the stereo images are vague and the level of background\nhiss is almost unacceptably high. That said, the beautifully natural,\nslightly recessed concert hall image serves Gieseking well; and the\norchestra, which is immaculately conducted by Arthur Rother, is finely\nfocused. In the latter part of the first movement cadenza artillery can\nbe heard dimly popping and pummelling in the background, much as it\nprobably did at the time of the work’s première in war-torn Vienna.\nGieseking, ever the poet and professional, remains perfectly poised,\nwhilst the horns sweep calmly and steadily in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR.O., Gramophone\u003c\/strong\u003e, January 1980\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"bodybigblue\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREVIEW \u003c\/strong\u003ePiano Concerto No. 4\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eHere, I venture to suggest, in the Gieseking-Karajan G\nmajor Concerto, we find almost the ideal recording ; sides 3 and 8 in\nparticular seem to me as nearly perfect examples of reproduced sound as\none is ever likely to meet. Gieseking’s approach to Beethoven is\nsuitably gentle and caressing ; but he can be dramatic at will, and his\ngood musical manners are no sign of weakness or mere amiability.\nTechnically, he exhibits a remarkable power of light but firm emphasis.\nHis touch is even sure when he wishes to vary it, which is the\nequivalent of saying that he has perfect control ; that would be wasted\nhad the pianist not also the musical mind to inform his fingers. He\nseems to play the G major with the utmost naturalness, as though he were\na learned and fluent and friendly improviser in a tautly listening\nparty. The secretive opening of III on side 6, the brilliance of side 2,\nthe flourish in the cadenza and the sweet-natured reentry of the first\nsubject are tokens of his success. The balance between soloist and\norchestra is right, the ensembles are warm and rich, the tuttis never\nalarming. I particularly like the weight of the strings and the even\ndistribution of tone across the orchestral gamut.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eH.F., The Gramophone\u003c\/strong\u003e, November 1951\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab4_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f","brand":"Pristine Classical","offers":[{"title":"Stereo 24-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010049720686,"sku":"bhw1789305568142","price":11.51,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Stereo 16-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010049753454,"sku":"vfu1789305568143","price":9.06,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"320kbps Stereo MP3","offer_id":55010049786222,"sku":"kuv1789305568144","price":8.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0915\/3986\/5966\/files\/gieseking-experimental-stereo-beethoven-emperor-plus-concerto-no-4-194451---pasc_1.jpg?v=1789305575","url":"https:\/\/www.harborviewgoods.shop\/products\/gieseking-experimental-stereo-beethoven-emperor-plus-concerto-no-4-194451-pasc390","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}