In these performances, recorded live at Festival Hall in 1967, the great Russian pianist Emil Gilels disappoints me only by choosing to play the shorter of the composer’s two cadenzas to the first movement of the C major concerto, not the longer, which is one of Beethoven’s great jokes, a huge tease of his audience. Does this mean Gilels underrates the humour of the work? Maybe; but his playing is so vivid, so lyrical, so natural in its mastery, I can’t imagine it, or the C minor, done better. Every run and trill and arpeggio makes beautiful, effortless music. Once past a slightly tentative start to No 1, Boult and the New Philharmonia are crisp, warm-hearted accompanists. These are performances to relish.