One could fairly say that
Francois-Frederic Guy is a brilliant pianist. In this 2003 recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto in B flat, he soars through the opening Allegro non troppo, roars through the following Allegro appassionato, sings through the central Andante, and swings through the closing Allegretto grazioso. One could likewise fairly say that
Paavo Berglund is a magisterial conductor and that he accompanies
Guy with the strength, sympathy, and sensitivity without diminishing the integrity of the orchestra's identity. One could likewise fairly say that the
London Philharmonic is one of the three or four best orchestras in London, that its performance is powerful and tender. One could also fairly say that it would take one heck of a performance to produce a recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto in B flat major that rivals the great recordings of the past, to rival, that is,
Schnabel,
Kempff,
Gilels,
Richter,
Arrau,
Pollini,
Brendel, Kovacevich, and at least a half-dozen others. That
Guy,
Berglund, and the
L.P.O. don't rival much, less surpass, their illustrious forebears in no way diminishes their performance. But that a collector would choose
Guy,
Berglund, and the
L.P.O. over any of their illustrious forebears is unlikely. Naïve's live digital sound is rough and ready.