This piece of music is without a doubt one the most inspiring concertos I've ever heard. It's majestic first movement is so full of vitality and strength that it takes the listener to a seeminly impenetrable fortress, but when the frailty and sorrow of the second movement come in one can see that pride and exuberance melt away into nothing. All of the glory would seem to be lost forever, and in the last few bars of the Adagio there is little left to live for. Then the Rondo: Allegro (third movement) shows up and offers the most sublime resolution, and ultimately, redemption. This concerto (in E-flat Major, and Beethoven's last for piano) is one of those works that I continually return to throughout my life, and which never seems to lose its remarkable poignancy.

I currently have the Ashkenazy/Mehta/Weiner Phil, the Pollini/Abbado/Berliner Phil, the Kovacevich/Davis/London Sym, the Van Cliburn/Reiner/Chicago Phil, the Fleisher/Szell/Cleveland Orch, and (my current favorite) the Michelangelli/Smetacek/Prague Sym versions of the piece.

I'd like to know if anyone here has a personal favorite (other than those I've listed) that they would recommend. Thank you

Beethoven's " emperor " concerto is inspiring !

I only have one recording of "Emperor"--actually it's a CD set of all the Beethoven piano concerti by Alfred Bendel/James Levine/Chicago Symphony. They're live concert recordings. They work fine for me, but I've learned that Levine is never a "critic's darling", so I would be hesitant to recommend this set to discriminating listeners.

I have never been a "multi-performance" collector of classical CDs, with the exception of Mahler's long form works, and a handful of individual works by various composers (such as Stravinsky's Firebird or Shostokovich's 5th Symphony).

You may need to check in at some of the more die-hard classical sites for more information. ClassicsToday.com is a good site to go to for in-depth reviews of a variety of recorded performances.

Yes, Levine can be over-the-top at times but for pieces that require a hard edge it can really work. And Brendel's interpretations of Beethoven are usually right on. Haven't heard that version yet, thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.

I too don't normally seek to collect many versions of one piece of music, but with this and a few others (Mozart's Requiem, and Stravinsky's Rite for example) it's a obsession that I can't ignore.

Yes, that concert I like very much. I have a great recording by Murray Perahia, and the Concertgebouw orchestra.

Good choice, Marmin - Perahia is a great pianist. Sometimes I find his style to be too aggressive though, rushing through the notes and not giving enough attention to the subtleties. However, I haven't heard his version of the 'Emperor'. I'll check that one out too - thanks

there is also the John Lill, City of Birmingham Symph with Walter Weller. As well as the Emil Gilels, Cleveland Orch., with Szell. And finally the Fischer and Philh. Orch with Furtwangler.

My current favorite would be the Kovacevich, LSO and Colin Davis.