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The exceptional pianist Géza Anda and the legendary conductor Karl Böhm met a total of three times: in 1956 with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, in September 1963 in Lucerne with the Philharmonia Orchestra London and Brahms› Piano Concerto in D minor – and in 1974 at the Salzburg Festival with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 18. The live recordings of the latter two encounters are now available digitally for the first time. According to music author and Anda specialist Wolfgang Rathert in the album’s booklet, it is precisely in the concert recordings that Géza Anda’s unmistakable artistry has manifested itself even more than in Anda’s numerous studio recordings, many of which still have a reference character: For although Anda was committed to an interpretative aesthetic of textual fidelity, his aim was always to track down the ‘inner life of the work’, which could only succeed in the unique, unrepeatable act of re-creation: and so he saw it as the greatest challenge for the artist to maintain a balance between control and spontaneity – which, when successful, could become a real musical moment of glory for performers and listeners alike. And this is precisely what we were able to experience in the Lucerne interpretation of Brahms: rarely has the turmoil of the D minor concerto, which drives the pianist to the limits of excessive demands in an incessant struggle between piano and orchestra, been realised in such an impressive manner and with such rousing energy. A good decade later, Anda and Böhm appeared on stage together once again. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 18 was to be Anda’s last appearance in Salzburg: he was diagnosed with cancer in 1975 and died the following summer. Anda’s mature Mozart playing is carefully phrased and transparent, but no longer light-heartedly pushing forward as in the 1950s, instead shows a thoughtful contemplation that almost seems like a desire to hold on to the exquisite beauty of this music.