Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 | Johannes Brahms, Berlin Philharmonic...

Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 | Johannes Brahms, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | FAVORITE PIANO CONCERTI

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Brahms: Concertos ...

	Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 Johannes Brahms, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon, 1996 average customer review:based on 31 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

These performances mount the only serious competition as a complete set to the Leon Fleisher/George Szell versions on Sony Classical. Emil Gilels was an extraordinary virtuoso who decided to place his technical wizardry in the service of the most disciplined and demanding classical masterpieces. No piano concertos live up to this description more than the two by Brahms. Himself a pianist, Brahms placed every purely musical stumbling block that he could in front of the soloist--only audiences never notice because there's no gratuitous display at all. A performer who has not mastered these pieces doesn't necessarily miss notes; he or she just bores everyone to tears. Well, Gilels is never dull, and neither is Eugen Jochum, whose spontaneous-sounding yet sensitive accompaniments support his soloist every step of the way. --David Hurwitz

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a truly great recording

To my mind neither Eugen Jochum nor Emil Gilels received the acclaim appropriate to their genius while they were living. Even now it appears they are appreciated mainly by a small clique of true classical music lovers.

These two performances of Brahms' Piano Concertos are flawless. They were both recorded in 1972 when Jochum was age 69, and Gilels was 55. Two masters in their mature prime. Add to this The Berlin Philharmonic and recording by Deutsche Grammophon. This is perfect Brahms. The treatment of both concertos is equally superb, achieving a synthesis of piano and orchestra in performances of unfolding eloquence and power.

In 1987 at age 85 (a year before he died) Eugen Jochum was asked in an interview about his memory of great recordings. He singled out the 1972 Brahms with Gilels as perhaps the finest recording of his career.

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FAVORITE PIANO CONCERTI

Brahms's monumental piano concertos are my very favorite piano concertos. Therefore, I own many recordings of same. Nevertheless, this recording with Gilels and Jochum is my absolute favorite! It is a recording that I've listened to, at least, once a week for many years. Gilels and Jochum truly play these "monsters of the form" wonderfully capturing Brahms's fierceness as well as his tenderness beautifully.

Truth be known, I slightly prefer the 1st concerto-I know that is a musical sacrilege. My god, Gilels plays the hell out of that work delivering those (what I call) "trills of death" in the first movement in such a manner that it still sends chills up and down my spine no matter how many time I have listened to the work.

DGG has done a superb job in it transfer to this "new" CD form. I owned the original vinyl recordings; however, I feel these CDs give the recording more depth with the sound being far richer.

If you want to hear a legendary and sublime recording of the Brahms's Piano Concertos,buy these discs.

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Scary

Jochum said this recording was the best thing he'd ever done, but obviously impressions vary. Maybe I had the advantage of limited expectations and a personal crisis the first time I heard it, but it literally made me shudder. The opening sequence, which others here have described as "ponderous," struck me with an almost religious clarity. I found it utterly convincing - a revelation, seemingly, of the true Brahms, which I had hitherto never grasped. I was never a big fan of Brahms before; his music seemed too dense, too murky. But this recording bring out an inner life in the music; a sleeping giant seems to awaken here. I listen to Brahms differently now.

I can name perhaps four or five recordings of similar power, including Furtwangler's version of Schubert's 9th with the Berlin orchestra, Beecham's version of Sheherazade with the Royal Phil., Bernsteins' version of Mahler's 5th with (I think) the New York Phil., and Haitink's version of the Shostakovich 5th with the Royal Concertgebouw. These are all desert island recordings in my opinion. Add now Jochum and Gilels' Brahms concertos.

I recommend this recording without reservation.

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One of Best Recordings of Brahms Piano Concertos!

Gilels is excellent on this classic recording of the Brahms Piano Concertos. Before these recordings came out of CD, I listened to these on LP records for hours and hours. I wore those records out.

The added bonus on the CD of the Fantasia is nice as well.

SPLENDID and ESSENTIAL

In short: No.1: As orchestral interpretation(Jochum-BP), only comparable with Giulini-Philharmonia and as piano playing only comparable with Arrau, Rubinstein and Curzon. Gilels' playing is romantic, powerful and splendid; Arrau's playing is philosophic, deep and deppressive; Rubinstein's playing is poetic,luminous and lively; Curzon's playing is lyric, thoughtful and elegant. No.2: Only comparable with Richter, Backhaus, Arrau and Anda.
This is not-to-be-missed and essential set for Brahms lovers. Superb recording and accoustic too(Jesus Christus Kirche,Berlin-Dahlem; 1972,Stereo). One of the greatest in every point of wiew.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Tracks
Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1 d-moll Op. 15: Maestoso - J. Brahms | Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1 d-moll Op. 15: Adagio - J. Brahms | Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1 d-moll Op. 15: Rondo. Allegro non troppo - J. Brahms | Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2 B-Dur Op. 83: Allegro non troppo | Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2 B-Dur Op. 83: Allegro appassionato | Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2 B-Dur Op. 83: Andante | Konzert fur Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2 B-Dur Op. 83: Allegretto grazioso | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 1 Capriccio: Presto energico | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 2 Intermezzo: Andante | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 3 Capriccio: Allegro passionato | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 4 Intermezzo: Adagio | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 5 Intermezzo: Andante con grazia ed intimissimo sentimento | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 6 Intermezzo: Andantino teneramente | Fantasien Op. 116: No. 7 Capriccio: Allegro agitato

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