There aren’t many pianists with the Beethoven pedigree of Rudolf Buchbinder. Now in his mid-60s, the former wunderkind who entered the Vienna Hochschule at age 5 has recorded two cycles of both sonatas and concertos, this most recent live set of concertos appearing on DVD two years ago to enthusiastic reviews.

If Buchbinder in the studio can be a little studied, these live performances are sparked with more life. Anything but a ‘personality’ player, you sense Buchbinder’s much happier poring over Beethoven’s original markings rather than laying on the showmanship and emotion for excitable fans. And instead of the luscious warm string sounds that Barenboim unleashes in the same repertoire, Buchbinder goes instead for the intimacy and almost chamber-music textures of a smaller band. This is both a strength and a weakness.

It’s a very ‘musicianly’ approach and one that will be appreciated by all who like their Beethoven affectation-free, interpreted with intelligence and good taste. But the live recorded sound to some ears will be less than scintillating, adding a dourness that the performances themselves, suitably animated in the First, lyrical in the Third and Fourth, and imposing in the Emperor, don’t actually possess. This is late-night Beethoven, to be...