So this is – for the time being, at least – my favourite Beethoven concerto recording of all time, and it’s all really down to one word: texture. Helmchen is scrupulous in observing nearly all of Beethoven’s fun little accents and dynamic markings, and is freakishly good at differentiating along the staccato/non-legato/slurred-staccato/legato (and the gentle-slur/slur/exaggerated slur) continuum. And the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under Manze puts in some phenomenal playing – the brass is absolutely stellar, the rapport with the soloist wonderfully spontaneous, and the tuttis are some of the best I’ve ever heard. Had a stupid grin on for nearly the whole duration of this performance the first time I heard it, and it’s not become any less impressive since then.

0:00 I. Allegro
20:22 II. Adagio un poco moto
27:25 III. Rondo, Allegro ma non troppo

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