It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.
Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded
Brahms piano concerto no 2
69.228.95.68 |
||
Posted on April 29, 2012 at 13:38:48 | ||
Posts: 1524
Location: N California Joined: May 26, 2000 |
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. |
Who's "Romy" and why does he wield influence? {nt}, posted on May 2, 2012 at 14:58:55 | |
Posts: 1414
Location: Chicago Joined: December 28, 2009 |
m |
Oh, and the timing on the First Movement?, posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:19:16 | |
14:24! P.A. |
Another modern day competition loser!, posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:23:34 | |
Posts: 1524
Location: N California Joined: May 26, 2000 |
nt |
Why would you want to rush through it?, posted on April 29, 2012 at 19:32:49 | |
Posts: 3042
Location: Texas Joined: May 31, 2004 |
I love the music. I also love the Richter. I'll listen to the Schnabel. |
ABM in his youth., posted on April 30, 2012 at 13:26:20 | |
Posts: 3042
Location: Texas Joined: May 31, 2004 |
I wonder if he was as much a perfectionist at the age of 18 as he was in his later years. |
RE: Brahms piano concerto no 2, posted on May 8, 2012 at 18:21:56 | |
Posts: 12327
Joined: February 9, 2010 |
If it's the equal of his Beethoven concerti, I can imagine . . . have to see if I can find it. |
But Gilels and Reiner are 15:43 in the first movement [nt] ;-), posted on April 29, 2012 at 13:54:54 | |
Posts: 26351
Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012 |
|
Gilels/Jochum 18:21 in first movement!!, posted on April 29, 2012 at 15:52:12 | |
Posts: 1524
Location: N California Joined: May 26, 2000 |
nt |
True - he'd put on some girth by then [nt] ;-), posted on April 29, 2012 at 16:22:22 | |
Posts: 26351
Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012 |
|
Gilels was 42 for Reiner, 55 for Jochum.... . . , posted on April 29, 2012 at 16:35:36 | |
Posts: 1524
Location: N California Joined: May 26, 2000 |
nt |
There's a threshold in there somewhere [nt] ;-), posted on April 29, 2012 at 16:38:58 | |
Posts: 26351
Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012 |
|