Ludwig van Beethoven - The Five Piano Concertos (Alexis Weissenberg)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

• Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
• Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19
• Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
• Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
• Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor"

Alexis Weissenberg, piano

Berliner Philharmoniker

Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Date: 1978 / 2025

Label: Warner Classics

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Alexis Weissenberg (1929–2012) was a Bulgarian-born French pianist acclaimed for his virtuosity and expressive interpretations. Taught by his mother and later Pancho Vladigerov, he survived internment in a concentration camp during WWII, saved by his accordion playing. After emigrating to Israel, he studied at the Jerusalem Academy, debuted with the Israel Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, and soon moved to the USA, where he trained at Juilliard and won the 1947 Leventritt Award. He debuted with Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 under George Szell. After a decade-long hiatus, he relaunched his career in 1966, gaining praise from Karajan. Renowned for his Chopin, Rachmaninov, and Bach interpretations, he also taught internationally and left an extensive discography.