Further to the post below about the music of Brahms, I recently discovered a recording of the Bflat concerto most worthy of your attention.
My favorite recordings of this work had been Serkin/Szell (cerebral, logical, brilliantly played) and Richter/Leinsdorf (exciting, forceful, fast). Richter gets through the work (which can seem endless) in less time than just about anyone, and the orchestral work (CSO) is top notch.
Now I find another pianist displaying similar youthful forward thrust, power, and technique who adds rare intellect and visionary insight into the music. This is a man going all out for excitement and grandeur, phrasing boldly, using subtle rubato, taking risks. Tempi are the fastest I've heard, 15:53 (Richter/Leinsdorf 16:49)in the opening and at least a half minute faster than Richter in each of the remaining movements. There are truly heroic qualities here: momentum, staggering dynamics, glittering runs and trills, plus a lightness and sweep that makes this fiendishly difficult score sound easy. The pianist is even willing to harden his tone and pound away, nearly drowning out a (very good) orchestra in the big climaxes. By contrast, the solo plays numerous soft levels below piano with unbelievable delicacy snd variety of touch. After the first movement I found myself nearly out of breath just from listening.
So who is this fiery keyboard master? Pogo, Horowitz, Hoffman, some up and coming new babe musician?
I'd love to prolong the suspense, but our unlikely virtuoso is no stranger: it's Artur Schnabel, in a 1935 Boult/BBC performance available on several recent CD issues. I got mine coupled with the 1947 studio "Kinderszenen", done fabulously as you might expect. Sound is fine for its vintage.
Don't miss this.
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Topic - Brahms piano concerto no 2 - Brian Cheney 13:38:48 04/29/12 (32)
- This Is So Exciting - Mike Porper 15:38:04 05/02/12 (0)
- Serkin/Szell: 2005 remaster - Bob Stern 02:30:20 05/02/12 (0)
- Two for further consideration - Poles Apart 12:17:31 04/30/12 (7)
- RE: Two for further consideration - Chris from Lafayette 14:16:27 04/30/12 (3)
- Who's "Romy" and why does he wield influence? {nt} - Mike Porper 14:58:55 05/02/12 (0)
- Romy - Poles Apart 10:00:25 05/02/12 (1)
- Interesting - Thanks! - Chris from Lafayette 12:30:12 05/02/12 (0)
- Oh, and the timing on the First Movement? - Poles Apart 12:19:16 04/30/12 (2)
- I'm going to pull a Brian on this one: Aeschenbacher/Van Kempen - 16:42 - Chris from Lafayette 12:39:01 04/30/12 (0)
- Another modern day competition loser! - Brian Cheney 12:23:34 04/30/12 (0)
- Available from The Classical Shop as a lossless download... - Russell 09:42:48 04/30/12 (0)
- Why would you want to rush through it? - jimbill 19:32:49 04/29/12 (6)
- Slow performances of the Brahms Second Concerto sound. . . flabby - Chris from Lafayette 23:36:11 04/29/12 (5)
- The teenage Schnabel heard Brahms play live... - Brian Cheney 11:53:01 04/30/12 (3)
- RE: The teenage Schnabel heard Brahms play live... - Chris from Lafayette 12:29:59 04/30/12 (2)
- ABM in his youth. - jimbill 13:26:20 04/30/12 (1)
- RE: ABM in his youth. - Chris from Lafayette 14:05:56 04/30/12 (0)
- The Schnabel didn't work for me either. - jimbill 09:15:49 04/30/12 (0)
- RE: Brahms piano concerto no 2 - MichaelV8 16:27:40 04/29/12 (1)
- RE: Brahms piano concerto no 2 - josh358 18:21:56 05/08/12 (0)
- RE: Brahms piano concerto no 2 - Thornhill 15:41:18 04/29/12 (0)
- RE: Brahms piano concerto no 2 - ahendler 14:15:28 04/29/12 (1)
- RE: Brahms piano concerto no 2 - josh358 18:31:22 05/08/12 (0)
- But Gilels and Reiner are 15:43 in the first movement [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 13:54:54 04/29/12 (8)
- Gilels/Jochum 18:21 in first movement!! - Brian Cheney 15:52:12 04/29/12 (5)
- True - he'd put on some girth by then [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 16:22:22 04/29/12 (4)
- BTW, that's one of the reasons why record companies should. . . - Chris from Lafayette 16:33:45 04/29/12 (3)
- RE: BTW, that's one of the reasons why record companies should. . . - Old Listener 16:30:12 04/30/12 (0)
- Gilels was 42 for Reiner, 55 for Jochum.... . . - Brian Cheney 16:35:36 04/29/12 (1)
- There's a threshold in there somewhere [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 16:38:58 04/29/12 (0)
- RE: But Gilels and Reiner are 15:43 in the first movement [nt] ;-) - ahendler 14:31:17 04/29/12 (1)
- Thanks, Alan - I've just been listening to it on Spotify - Chris from Lafayette 14:37:04 04/29/12 (0)