Beethoven: Piano Concertos 2 & 4 (Essential Classics)

When he recorded these concertos in 1959-61, Leon Fleisher was one of the outstanding young pianists in the world. Shortly afterward he was derailed by a hand ailment, though he eventually returned to two-handed playing. These performances were great critical successes when they were first issued, and they remain among the best ever recorded of the Beethoven concertos--heads-up, alert playing from soloist and orchestra that never loses focus for a moment. Nearly four decades after they were recorded, these are still great Beethoven. --Leslie Gerber