Together with the Berlin-based Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester (DSO) Mari Kodama and her husband Kent Nagano have now completed the recording of all of Beethoven's piano concertos by jumping, as it were, back in time twice: the last element of this recording series that has spanned more than 13 years was Beethoven's concerto "number nought" (WoO 4) – personally edited by Mari Kodama from the autograph score. The original manuscript of this piano concerto is kept at the State Library in Berlin. This is not a completed score, because there is no orchestration. That said, Beethoven annotated the short score, especially in the first two movements, with indications as to which instrument was to play which part. The orchestra score which is available today was written in the early twentieth century based on those annotations. The only problem is: "Today, armed with the knowledge we now have acquired about the young Beethoven, we would perform this concerto quite differently in places," explain Mari Kodama and Kent Nagano in unison. They therefore present a very personal adaptation that emerged during rehearsal with the orchestra and at the recording sessions, and which reflects Kodama's and Nagano's individual image of Beethoven. They aim to make audible the exuberant freshness and urgent sense of awakening in the young, almost childlike Beethoven's writing shortly before his artistic powers were to burst forth, the joie de vivre and vital energy in a style that owes something to the playfulness of both Haydn and Mozart. That is Mari Kodama's intention, and she plays it in precisely such a versatile manner. Combined with the classical canon of the piano concertos nos. 1–5, the resulting comprehensive edition is complemented by the Triple Concerto for piano, violin and cello op. 56, the Rondo WoO 6 and the Eroica Variations op. 35, offering insight into the artist's longstanding involvement with her musical companion Ludwig van Beethoven. And the recordings of his works seem to lead the listener through the composer's life. "If you play all of them, it is like accompanying Beethoven on a journey through his life," explains Mari Kodama, and Kent Nagano adds: "You acknowledge the musical genius and at the same time you recognise the development of European music, because Beethoven was undoubtedly its pioneer." He led the way in changing the structure, form and harmony of music, just as there was an equally radical shift in the world around him; after the French Revolution society and business and the incipient industrial revolution began to alter the way people lived. "He is and remains an optimist, someone who can do no other than believe in what he wishes to communicate to us through his music," explains Kodama. She says this helps her. The fact that she herself is an optimist can partly be attributed to Beethoven. Kodama, Nagano and the DSO – one might imagine them almost as a trio where all the musicians have blind faith in each other and are therefore able to produce a degree of musical intensity that brings the young Beethoven back to life. © Berlin Classics

Glenn Gould and Leopold Stokowski's 1966 Columbia recording of Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto is so entertaining that trying not to laugh out loud while listening would make a good drinking game. The two can't seem to agree on the essential character of the piece, and hearing them argue back and forth is downright hilarious. First, Stokowski and the American Symphony land with both feet on a big fat orchestral tutti, then Gould enters and nonchalantly noodles his way up the piano to the slowest trill in creation. Stokowski jumps on a second tutti and Gould picks up the thread and wanders off into another lazy trill, humming all the way (as he always did while playing). Stokowski slams a third tutti and Gould rambles. If Groucho Marx was conducting and Chico Marx was playing the piano, it couldn't be any funnier. So it goes with Stokowski playing the music as if it's essentially heroic and Gould playing it as if it's meant for Looney Tunes. In the end, Stokowski proves the more stubborn, and he never allows the performance to give over to Gould's blandishments. While it's undeniably odd to hear two musicians argue so noticeably in performance -- Stokowski with his mainstream Romanticism, Gould with his straight-faced Dadaism -- one cannot help but enjoy the ride.© TiVo

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Though Fauré was assuredly his own man as a composer, in these performances of his piano music by Jean-Claude Pennetier, he is also surely the rightful heir of Chopin. The formal matter here is clearly Chopin's -- a ballade, a mazurka, four waltzes, and nine preludes -- and the stylistic manner is Chopin's as well -- the filigree and melody in the right hand and the left hand divided between counter-melody, chordal accompaniment and bass. This is meant as no slight to either Fauré or Pennetier. This is luscious music with toothsome melodies, succulent sonorities, and mouthwatering forms, and if these can be faulted for being too beautiful, it's a fault they should bear proudly. The performances are likewise exquisite. Pennetier has a fluent technique, a pearly tone, and an elegant way of phrasing a melody and shaping a form. But more than that, Pennetier has a real sympathy for Fauré's music and his interpretations are honest and heartfelt. Though the classic performances of these works are certainly worthy of admiration and love, Pennetier's are no less admirable and loveable and any listener interested in the composer or the period is urged to try this disc. Mirare's digital sound is clear, deep, and immediate. © TiVo