Credits:

Wilhelm Backhaus

Description:

Wilhelm Backhaus (1884-1969) is one of the leading pianists of the 20th century. He was an unparalleled performer who was nicknamed the "Lion King of the Keyboard" for his unwavering interpretation of a series of Beethoven's works. This 3-CD set contains all of Backhaus's recordings for SWR broadcasts, including solos and concertos from three performances (Ludwigsburg Castle recital in 1953, concerts at the Riederhalle in 1959 and 1962). The album shows the musical maturity of Backhaus in his later years. The sonatas and concertos show his solid construction and sincere feeling for the music, while the Brahms waltz played as an encore in 1959 has an unexpectedly charming expression. This is the first CD of any of the recordings to be digitally remastered from the original tapes in the SWR collection. Naxos Japan