Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23
Herbert von Karajan, Orchestre de Paris, Alexis Weissenberg
Captured in Salle Wagram in 1970, this legendary recording pairs Alexis Weissenberg’s razor-sharp, steel-fingered virtuosity with Karajan’s grandiose orchestral architecture. Tensions ran high during the sessions over tempi and balancing, resulting in a thrillingly explosive, muscular, and unyielding performance of Tchaikovsky’s first concerto.