Dame Myra Hess Plays Concerti

DAME MYRA HESS PLAYS CONCERTI

On this page, Myra Hess plays concerti by Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms, as well as the Symphonic Variations by César Franck.

The Mozart concerti are wonderful, and it is difficult to imagine that the pianist who chewed up and spat out the ferocious "Emperor" to be heard below also played these with all the requisite delicacy, yet with drama and force when required.

The recording of the Brahms 1st is tremendous, bad accoustics and all. The beginning sounds like the bloody wrath of God raining down upon us, and we can thank Mitropoulos for that. [While you're at it, check out his recording of the Brahms 3rd symphony.]

And be sure not to miss the Franck Symphonic Variations. All the Belgian master's plaintive colors are brought to the fore in a loving performance. This is my favorite of all the recordings in which Hess plays concerti or concerted works with orchestra.

These are all great performances by one of the greatest of all pianists. Dame Myra Hess plays concerti, many of which are led by the supreme conductors of the first half of the 20th century: Bruno Walter, Adrian Boult, Arturo Todcanini, Eduard van Beinum, Serge Koussevitsky, and Dimitri Mitropoulos. Try finding pairings such as these in a concert hall today

Mozart Piano Concerto 9 in E♭ major, K 271 "Jeunehomme"
i Allegro
10:35 ➢ ii Andantino
24:18 ➢ iii Rondo - Presto
Pablo Casals conducting the Perpignan Festival Orchestra

recorded in 1953

Mozart Piano Concerto 14 in E♭ major, K 449
i Allegro ma non troppo
08:29 ➢ ii Andantino
16:18 ➢ iii Allegro vivace
Bruno Walter conducting the New York Philarmonic Orchestra

recorded live in 1954

Mozart Piano Concerto 17 in G major, K 453
excerpt from i Allegro
Peter O'Donnell conducting the RAF Orchestra

Mozart Piano Concerto 20 in D minor, K 466
Bruno Walter conducting the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York

recorded in 1956

i Allegro

ii Romanze

iii Allegro assai

Mozart Piano Concerto 21 in C major, K 467
i Allegro maestoso
ii Andante
iii Allegro vivace assai
Leslie Heward conducting an unidentified orchestra

recorded in 1942

Mozart Piano Concerto 23 in A major, K 488
i Allegro
10:43 ➢ ii Adagio
17:07 ➢ iii Allegro assai
Adrian Boult conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra

recorded in 1961

Beethoven Piano Concerto 2 in ♭ major, Op 19
Sir Alexander Gibson conducting the Scottish National Orchestra

recorded live in 1960

i Allegro con brio

ii Adagio

iii Rondo - Molto allegro

Beethoven Piano Concerto 3 in C minor, Op 37
Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra

broadcast live in 1946

i Allegro con brio

ii Largo

iii Rondo - Allegro

Beethoven Piano Concerto 4 in G major, Op 58
Sir Adrian Boult conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra

recorded live in 1952

i Allegro moderato

ii Andante con moto
iii Rondo - Vivace

Beethoven Piano Concerto 4 in G major, Op 58
Sir Adrian Boult conducting the London Proms Orchestra

recorded live in 1961

ia Allegro moderato (beginning)

ib Allegro moderato (conclusion)

ii Andante con moto

iii Rondo - Vivace

Beethoven Piano Concerto 5 in E♭ major, Op 73 "Emperor"
Efrem Kurtz conducting the Philarmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York

recorded live in 1953

i Allegro

ii Adagio un poco mosso
iii Rondo - Allegro ma non troppo

Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
i Allegro affettuoso
15:35 ➢ ii Intermezzo - Andantino grazioso
20:37 ➢ iii Allegro vivace
Walter Goehr conducting an unspecified [London] symphony orchestra

recorded in 1937

Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
i Allegro affettuoso
15:54 ➢ ii Intermezzo - Andantino grazioso
21:33 ➢ iii Allegro vivace
Rudolf Schwarz conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra of London

recorded in 1952

Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
i Allegro affettuoso
15:35 ➢ ii Intermezzo - Andantino grazioso
20:58 ➢ iii Allegro vivace
Eduard van Beinum conducting an unspecified symphony orchestra

recorded in 1956