Triple Concerto

This EMI recording from 1969 brought together the violinist David Oistrach, the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, the conductor Herbert von Karajan, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and Sviatoslav Richter.

The piece is Beethoven's Triple Concerto, that is, music for piano, violin and cello soloists and orchestra, written around 1804.

This is a form that can perhaps be thought of as a concerto for piano trio and orchestra.

Beethoven only wrote one triple concerto, and not many other composers have wrestled with it.

Perhaps because getting all the acoustic balances right whilst creating opportunities for three virtuosic performances is a massive challenge.

When this recording came out, it was a sensation and was reviewed glowingly.

That said, it seems that unlike many other players, he appeared to care very little for how he was recorded, where he was recorded, and sometimes even what was recorded.

For a performer who was so ambivalent about the process, he ended up being about the most recorded pianist of the 20th century.

He conducted all of them.

So Alan, who I have known for many, many years and collaborated with many times, We recorded the entire set, not only the five piano concertos, but also the triple concerto, which we did with, I believe, Elisa Weilerstein, which I believe was here just a week ago with the Pittsburgh Symphony.

We also recorded the Beethoven violin concerto that he wrote the version for for piano and the choral fantasy.

So the entire set of works for piano and orchestra were the Academy over several years.