This 2023 release marks the conclusion of a cycle of
Beethoven
concertos from pianist
Boris Giltburg
and the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
under
Vasily Petrenko
; the cycle included not only the canonical five but also a solo version of the so-called
Piano Concerto No. 0
from
's youth. The set has marked a major step forward in the career of
Giltburg
, who began mostly with virtuoso Russian repertory but has emerged as a strong Beethovenian. In the well-worn
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
, and
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
, his readings are fresh and keep the listener guessing while not doing anything outre. Sample the opening movement of the
Piano Concerto No. 3
, where he is so spontaneous that
Petrenko
and the Liverpudlians seem at times to be striving to keep up with him. The somber central movement of the
Piano Concerto No. 4
is mysterious and strangely hesitant in
's hands, building energy that is released in an unusually joyous finale. Consistently intriguing, this is a strong finish for
's cycle, and it made classical best-seller lists in early 2023. ~ James Manheim