BEETHOVEN L.v. CONCERTOS / J.Panenka piano, J.Suk violin, J.Chuchro cello / PSO, CPO, PRSO

CD 1

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto No. 1 in C major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 15 (1795, rev. 1800) 33:51

1. I. Allegro con brio 14:09

2. II. Largo 10:19

3. III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando 9:16

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 37 (1800) 33:36

4. I. Allegro con brio 14:33

5. II. Largo 9:47

6. III. Rondo. Allegro 9:08

Cadenza: Bedřich Smetana

CD 2

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto No. 2 in B flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 19

(1793; rev. 1794-95, 1798) 28:30

1. I. Allegro con brio 13:13

2. II. Adagio 8:43

3. III. Rondo. Molto allegro 6:24

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto No. 4 in G major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58 (1805-06) 29:25

4. I. Allegro moderato 15:25

5. II. Andante con moto (attacca) 4:57

6. III. Rondo. Vivace 9:00

Cadenza: Bedřich Smetana

7. Ludwig van Beethoven - Fantasia in C minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 80 (1808) 19:06

CD 3

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto No. 5 in E flat major for Piano and Orchestra, "Emperor", Op. 73 (1809) 38:39

1. I. Allegro 19:42

2. II. Adagio un poco mosso (attacca) 8:07

3. III. Rondo. Allegro (attacca) 10:44

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra in C major, Op. 56 (1804-07) 35:11

4. I. Allegro 16:54

5. II. Largo 5:22

6. III. Rondo alla polacca 12:48

CD 4

Ludwig van Beethoven - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, Op. 61 (1806) 45:52

1. I. Allegro ma non troppo 24:44

2. II. Larghetto (attaca) 11:27

3. III. Rondo. Allegro (attacca) 9:36

4. Ludwig van Beethoven - Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G major, Op. 40 (1801-02) 7:34

5. Ludwig van Beethoven - Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in F major, Op. 50 (c. 1798) 9:08

Josef Suk violin, Jan Panenka piano, Josef Chuchro cello

Prague Symphony Orchestra, conductor Václav Smetáček (Piano Concertos, Fantasia, Romances)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductors Kurt Masur (Triple Concerto), Franz Konwitschny (Violin Concerto)

Prague Radio Chorus, chorus master Milan Malý (Fantasia)

Recorded in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, Prague, 1962 (Violin Concerto), 1964 (Piano Concerto No. 1), 1968 (No. 2), 1969 (Nos 3 + 5), 1971 (No. 4, Fantasia), 1973 (Triple Concerto), in the Prague Radio Studio, 1970 (Romance No. 1) and in the Smetana

Hall of the Municipal House, 1977 (Romance No. 2).

Following the collections of symphonies (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Kletzki, SU40512016) and violin sonatas (Suk, Panenka, SU40772114), Supraphon is now releasing the complete Beethoven concertante pieces. All of them (including the Triple Concerto and

the genre-unique Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra) came into being within a mere sixteen years, between 1793 and 1809. Although Beethoven deemed the piano "an imperfect instrument", his five piano concertos form one of the cornerstones of his

oeuvre and represent a significant landmark in this genre. Amidst the innumerable recordings made, Panenka's singular take on Beethoven stands out and astonishes owing to the sheer exuberance of articulation, purity of style and lucidity of tone. In 1962,

the famous violin concerto was undertaken by Josef Suk with his characteristically masterful musicality. Under Kurt Masur, the Triple Concerto was performed by the entire Suk Trio and the three superlative soloists, possessing abundant chamber experience,

proved to be the ideal interpreters of the "Grand Concerto Concertant". Beethoven recordings fully deserving of the oft-used attribute "legendary".

(Supraphon 2012)