Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5

This BBC recording of a concert from June 1963, never before released, is notable on several fronts. Not only is it a document of a magical evening of music-making, it marked a rare London meeting of superstar artists best known in America, (and who were unable to make recordings together at the time due to contractual exclusivity). A capacity crowd at London's Royal Festival Hall were treated to a program that included the legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein playing Beethoven's 'Emperor' Concerto, as well as Prokofiev's 'Classical' Symphony and Sibelius's Symphony No.2 performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra led by Eugene Ormandy.