[ShropshireMoose]

Spelling is Fleisher if you go a-searching.

I've edited accordingly!

 

[DavidA]

There is an ancient recording of the 1st from Backhaus who actually knew Brahms. He takes ot faster than most. A sign Brahms intended it to move swiftly rather than the leaden tempi sometimes adopted.

 

[Vaneyes]

Re Brahms PC1, do audition the Douglas/LSO/Skrowaczewski (RCA, rec.1988), if you haven't. A blistering, take-no-prisoners account, which ideally suits this work, IMO. :tiphat:

 

[DavidA]

Re Brahms PC1, do audition the Douglas/LSO/Skrowaczewski (RCA, rec.1988), if you haven't. A blistering, take-no-prisoners account, which ideally suits this work, IMO. :tiphat:

One of the finest accounts I heard was from the Leeds Piano Competition when a young American, Lydia Artimaw, gave a blustering performance. She should have won on the basis of that but the judges, with usual conservatism, gave it to Michel Dalberto. But the young tigress playing Brahms lives in the memory.

 

[Cosmos]

I side with Britten. I don't like Brahms; I like this concerto though

 

[tempo]

The heavy breathing is Szell

How do you know that?

 

[Triplets]

It is great music. Is it better than the PCs of Schumann, Grieg, Rachmaninov, Bartok, or Prokofiev, or Tchaikovsky? In the wrong hands, Brahms 1 can sound pretty turgid, and the tendency over the past 20 years or so is to slow it down, which I don't like.
The recordings of Leon Fleisher and Rudolf Serkin nailed it, about 50 years ago. Stick with those.

 

[Skilmarilion]

Just listening to CD review and Brahms 1st Piano Concerto. This is my favourite post Beethoven 19th century piano concerto (Brahms 2nd is too middle aged). I've heard that even Britten (a notorious dis-liker of Brahms) liked it.

Greatest since Beethoven? Impossible to say...

Not sure I follow this 'young man's music' thing. Brahms' 2nd concerto is more refined, with an obviously symphonic structural foundation and is probably more Romantic leaning than classical. That scherzo has a lot of the same 'bite' as there may be found in the first.

It''s like comparing Rachmaninov's third with his second -- both truly great, but the third is more ambitious, more expertly crafted.

 

[hreichgott]

It is great music. Is it better than the PCs of Schumann, Grieg, Rachmaninov, Bartok, or Prokofiev, or Tchaikovsky? In the wrong hands, Brahms 1 can sound pretty turgid, and the tendency over the past 20 years or so is to slow it down, which I don't like.

This is about the 2nd Brahms concerto but somehow I thought people here might be amused

article (with much more funny stuff): Whose Brahms? by Jeremy Denk

 

[joen_cph]

There´s at least one exception to the slowing down in the 2nd concerto:
Manz/Mandeal (1996), 43,5 mins,
less than their (similarly quite fast) recording of the 1st concerto.

EDIT: Well, I almost said that already, earlier in the thread ;-).

 

[Brahmsian Colors]

Curzon/Szell and Serkin/Szell are both very fine, but there is an unusual sense of life and detail generated by Serkin/Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra.

 

[hpowders]

A monumental performance is Arrau/Giulini. Slow, but magnificent.

 

[lluissineu]

A monumental performance is Arrau/Giulini. Slow, but magnificent.

Absolutely. I agree. I was about to mention this recording but... You did it first. You're quick, good reflexes!

 

[hpowders]

Absolutely. I agree. I was about to mention this recording but... You did it first. You're quick, good reflexes!

I saw you coming over and went into speed mode! :lol:

 

[Animal the Drummer]

Curzon/Szell and Serkin/Szell are both very fine, but there is an unusual sense of life and detail generated by Serkin/Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra.

Agree. I have that one and Curzon's other recording conducted by van Beinum, which is very different and very fine too, the rather thin orchestral recording notwithstanding.

 

[Pugg]

Give me Askenazy/ Haitink and Van Cliburn/ Leinsdorf any day of the week.

 

[lluissineu]

Give me Askenazy/ Haitink and Van Cliburn/ Leinsdorf any day of the week.

Apart from agreeing with recordings (even though I prefer Arrau/Giulini), congratulations for your new avatar. Isn't she beautiful?

 

[hpowders]

Apart from agreeing with recordings (even though I prefer Arrau/Giulini), congratulations for your new avatar. Isn't she beautiful?

Yes. Arrau/Giulini is the cerebral choice. Really meant for discriminating listeners.

Arrau/Giulini had the courage to present an interpretation far out of the mainstream, knowing it wouldn't be a commercial success and for this they have my deepmost respect.

 

[Pugg]

Apart from agreeing with recordings (even though I prefer Arrau/Giulini), congratulations for your new avatar. Isn't she beautiful?

Thanks you very much and yes she gorgeous, just like the voice.

 

[gprengel]

Yes, Brahms 1st piano concerto for me definitely is the greatest post Beethoven 19th cent piano concerto. His 2nd of course is great, too, but I never could get really appreciate it's final movement