Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5 (Claudio Arrau)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

• Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
• Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 - "Emperor"

Claudio Arrau, piano

Staatskapelle Dresden

Colin Davis, conductor

Date: 1984 / 2001

Label: Philips

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Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. Beethoven is acknowledged as a giant of classical music, and his influence on subsequent generations was profound. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas and 16 string quartets. Many of his most admired works come from the last decade of his life, when he was almost completely deaf.

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Claudio Arrau (6 February 1903 – 9 June 1991) was a Chilean-American pianist. He studied in Berlin under Martin Krause, and by his teens, was touring Europe under renowned conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler and Willem Mengelberg. He later expanding his presence to South America, the United States and the Soviet Union. Following World War II, Arrau established worldwide acclaim, renowned for his broad repertoire, especially his landmark complete Beethoven sonata cycles. He remained a dedicated performer and teacher well into his final years, leaving behind a vast catalog of celebrated recordings.

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