WILHELM BACKHAUS

 

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5*

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C, Op. 53**

Chopin: Etudes Op. 25, Nos. 1,2,3,6,8,9***

Chopin: Etude No. 5 Op. 10***

 

Wilhelm Backhaus

Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester / Georg Solti*

 

Saal 1, Funkhaus, WDR Cologne, 25 June 1956*

Beethovenhalle, Bonn, 24 September 1959**

Lugano, 11 June 1953***

 

The eminent German –born Swiss pianist Wilhelm Backhaus (1884-1969) began his career with a major tour in 1900 at the age of 16, acquiring a fine reputation in Europe as both a pianist and a teacher. He made his USA debut in January 1912, as soloist in Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto with Walter Damrosch and the New York Symphony Orchestra. He toured widely throughout his life - in 1921 he gave 17 concerts in Buenos Aires in less than three weeks. In 1930 he moved to Lugano, where he continued to teach, and became a naturalised citizen of Switzerland. Following World War II he resumed his concert tours and made his last appearance in the USA at a recital in New York in 1962, at the age of 78, displaying undiminished vigour as a virtuoso. Backhaus was particularly well known for his interpretations of the romantic music of Beethoven and Brahms. He was also much admired as a chamber musician. According to many critics, Backhaus was one of the first modern artists of the keyboard and played with a clean, spare, and objective style. In spite of this analytic approach, his performances are full of feeling.

 

This WDR recording of Beethoven's "Emperor" concerto conducted by the young Georg Solti from 1956 showcases Backhaus's tremendous understanding of Beethoven (he made three commercial recordings of No.5, the last two for Decca) and his undiminished energy (he was 72 at the time of the WDR broadcast). He is finely supported by Solti who in 1956 made his debut at the Salzburg Festival.

 

Backhaus was probably a finer pianist live than in the confines of the studio as his style became much freer and less analytical. The superb live concert performance of Beethoven's "Waldstein" Sonata from the Beethovenhalle in Bonn in 1959 supports this claim.

 

Backhaus was the first to record the Chopin Etudes in 1928. This is still widely regarded as one of the best recordings (Pearl) since he plays them smoothly and softly, overcoming their technical challenges without apparent effort. This live recording from Lugano in 1953 (his home town) includes 7 of the Etudes, Op. 25 and Op.10 and shows the changes that occurred in his playing style over the years. His technical command is the same, but he is more relaxed and confident and more willing to let the music speak for itself.

 

The WDR Beethoven broadcasts are in superb WDR quality from the ORIGINAL MASTERS.

 

Medici Arts MM0062