Looking for a new set of these remarkable works? A quick glance reveals there are over 30 sets of the Piano Concertos on the market at the moment, ranging from the historical (Schnabel and Kempff) to more contemporary recordings (Ashkenazy, Perahia, Brendel, Kissin and Barenboim). This new set from France is another take on these warhorses.

Philippe Jordan states that he places the works at the core of his repertoire. They are well played and accompanied and there are no surprises. Simply good, sensitive Beethoven playing. Nor are these recordings overly reverberant, which is a blessing.The final movement of the Fifth is given a more lyrical treatment than usual. Quite often this section can turn into a piano bashing exercise, but Jordan treats it with welcome humour. The up-tempo section in the last movement of the First Concerto still makes one sit up. It is a delight, with its “cool” swing.

I ran some comparisons with some benchmark EMI recordings from the 1950s. I expected to find the recordings with Emil Gilels stodgy, dragged down by pre-original instrument heavy-handedness. This is was not the case as they are fabulous performances. Gilels plays with far more character than Guy.However, it is an outsider that has got the critics raving. The American Record Guide believes that the new set from Jiri Belohlávek, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Paul Lewis blows the competition out of the water. A treat I am looking forward to.