Recital & Concertos

In 1905, when Wilhelm Backhaus won the distinguished Anton Rubinstein competition in Paris at the age of 21- Bela Bartok came in second!- he thrilled the famous musicians of his day, and, of course, the turn of the century audience, with standard pieces of the highest splendor. Yet he not only impressed with works by Franz Liszt and related virtuoso composers. In 1927, he was the first pianist to record all 24 etudes Opp. 10 and 25 by Frederic Chopin. Still admired today, this documents his superb technique and simultaneously his temperament with it's almost ebullient willingness to share. In the present documentation, we have the E flat Major concerto Op. 73 with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Joseph Keilberth in palpable accordance with the clear and clarified desires and wishes of the soloist. In respect, this recording is not only a confirmation of Backhaus as an absolute authority for the E flat Major, but also a clarion call in regards to Keilberth.