比起前一位协奏曲大师莫扎特来,贝多芬的乐队谱更具有交响性,其中的个别乐器也更为个性化,与钢琴的对应也更开阔,旷达.尤其从第三协奏曲起,贝多芬更是反过来让钢琴也参与进乐队,推动了整个音乐的交响性展开.技巧更辉煌,音响更壮丽,使得钢琴协奏曲这一音乐式样大大地浪漫化了,难怪到了他的第五协奏曲问世,音乐会听众中有人会情不自禁地欢呼它为"协奏曲中的皇帝"!似乎这"王位"命中注定是要让贝多芬来坐的.
无数的钢琴家和乐队在演奏这些曲子.全集唱片很多,好版本也不少.我以往曾向朋友推荐Philips的布伦德尔和海廷克版(LP编号 6767 002),至今珍爱不已.这回我再推荐DG的肯普夫版,在我也是一个至爱.肯普夫于DG先后两回录过这五首曲子,1953年的这个单音版本显然好过后来和莱特纳合作重录的那套.虽然是单音,音效却相当不错.更有意思的是,除了第五号"皇帝"之外,前面四首的快乐章华彩都是肯普夫重写的,这一点就和其他所有人的版本都不同了.

01 Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" - 1. Allegro
02 Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" - 2. Adagio un poco mosso
03 Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major Op.73 -"Emperor" - 3. Rondo (Allegro)

Hilary Hahn (born November 27, 1979) is an American violinist. She has performed throughout the world both as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors and as a recitalist. She has also built a reputation as a champion of contemporary music. Several composers have written works for her, including concerti by Edgar Meyer and Jennifer Higdon, partitas by Antón García Abril, and a violin and piano sonata by Lera Auerbach.