TRACKLISTING

CD1
1-3 Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, op.15
4-6 Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, op.19
7 Rondo in C major, op.51 no.1
8 Rondo in G major, op.51 no.2

CD 2
1-3 Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, op.37
4-6 Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, op. 58

CD 3
1-3 Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major, op.73 "Emperor"
4-6 Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, op.27 no.2 "Moonlight"
7-9 Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, op.13 "Pathétique"

CD 4
1-3 Piano Sonata No.21 in C major, op.53 "Waldstein"
4 32 Variations in C minor on an Original Theme, WoO 80
5-7 Quintet for Piano & Wind in E flat major, op.16

RECORDING INFORMATION

One of three new products celebrating the 60th Birthday of the greatly loved Romanian pianist
Radu Lupu will be 60 on 30 November 2005 and this is one of a series of three collector editions being released to mark the occasion. These three sets focus on his DECCA recordings of the three composers with which he is so closely identified: Beethoven, Brahms & Schubert.

Lupu first came to prominence in the late 1960s when he won several important competitions: Van Cliburn in 1966 and Enescu in 1967, and with his appearance in the Leeds Piano Competition in 1969 his reputation was firmly established when he took First Prize. Shortly after this he made his first record for DECCA – Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto and the 32 Variations on an Original Theme.

Between this date and the early 1980s Lupu recorded quite regularly and many of his records quickly became highly-acclaimed recordings which are regularly recommended as first choices. Lupu came to dislike recording more and more, and his appearances in the recording studio diminished rapidly; over the past twenty-three years he has made just four records for DECCA. Lupu is one of those rare artists who has achieved something approaching cult status and the release of these sets of discs is a timely reminder of the artistry of this very fine pianist.