R3 in Concert one-stop shop

[Ein Heldenleben]

If I look backwards from the end of the Concerto ,I find myself largely in agreement with you, Ein Heldenleben.
However, I found Ohlssohn to be more matter of fact than Matterhorn in the first movement in which the orchestra scaled the peaks before Garrick had packed his gear at base camp. However during one of two of the duets in the work's slow movement Garry listened to the beauteous upper woodwind contributions and became inspired by them. No more US and Them but soloist and Orchestra in Concert.

Thereafter, well read our hero's lovely report.
marks : conductor10 / 10
orchestration 9 / 10
Garrick (7+9+10)/3 = 8.7

I enjoyed the Rhenish Symphony in the first half.

Yes very good Rhenish also.
Have to say I though GO pretty good in the first movement . It’s an unusual first movement . That wonderful hushed Bach like Arioso opening - so unbarnstorming a first entry. I’ve heard a few make a hash of that - particularly the left hand with those big leaps .It’s all much harder to play than it sounds - full of consecutive sixths , those octave trills that Brahms loved and then passages of the utmost tenderness. The piano has a few solo mini breaks as well - you must feel very alone when playing those . Again they are very unflashy but tricky to bring off. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a perfect performance -perhaps Gilels and Kovacevich come close.

[smittims]

An old friend of mine once saw Artur Schnabel play the Brahms D minor (I should explain he was much older than I) , and had a memory lapse at the first entry. He said 'Adrian Boult went white as a sheet and passed a hand over his face ' (it was being broadcast 'live') .

[Ein Heldenleben]

An old friend of mine once saw Artur Schnabel play the Brahms D minor (I should explain he was much older than I) , and had a memory lapse at the first entry. He said 'Adrian Boult went white as a sheet and passed a hand over his face ' (it was being broadcast 'live') .

Schnabel recorded that work with Boult didn’t he ? When you have a memory lapse at the first entry it’s going to be a rocky night. I think it has the reputation of being a bit of a pianist’s graveyard. I wonder whether the long time before the first piano entry allows too much brooding time ? There was a recent R3 broadcast where the pianist hit the rocks a few times but memory has suppressed the details.

[oliver sudden]

so unbarnstorming a first entry.

It’s a typical Mozart opening gambit when the opening tutti has been a noisy one to bring the piano in on something lyrical so there’s no risk of it seeming underpowered by comparison. Brahms learnt that lesson well!

[Ein Heldenleben]

It’s a typical Mozart opening gambit when the opening tutti has been a noisy one to bring the piano in on something lyrical so there’s no risk of it seeming underpowered by comparison. Brahms learnt that lesson well!

Yes and a Brahms tutti is way way noisier than a Mozart one.

[edashtav]

Yes very good Rhenish also.
Have to say I though GO pretty good in the first movement . It’s an unusual first movement . That wonderful hushed Bach like Arioso opening - so unbarnstorming a first entry. I’ve heard a few make a hash of that - particularly the left hand with those big leaps .It’s all much harder to play than it sounds - full of consecutive sixths , those octave trills that Brahms loved and then passages of the utmost tenderness. The piano has a few solo mini breaks as well - you must feel very alone when playing those . Again they are very unflashy but tricky to bring off. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a perfect performance -perhaps Gilels and Kovacevich come close.

That's a pertinent and helpful post Ein Heldenleben. My problems with the first movement may be due to Brahms's inexperience in writing piano Concerti and my expectation of perfection from an apprentice piece.

[Ein Heldenleben]

That's a pertinent and helpful post Ein Heldenleben. My problems with the first movement may be due to Brahms's inexperience in writing piano Concerti and my expectation of perfection from an apprentice piece.

ooh “inexperienced “ and “apprentice “ I’m not so sure. He was 25 by the time of the premiere . I don’t suppose any composer was better prepared in history for the various compositional challenges he set himself .. It’s funny a lot of Brahms early- ish piano sonatas are to me needlessly “thick “ in texture - a lot of notes at once.
By the first PC it’s amazing how much more spare he makes things (in places ) I think it’s an absolute masterpiece and I would particularly praise his piano writing. The way he often integrates simple two lines ( one in the bass and maybe octaves in the treble while the orchestra “fill in “ the harmonies - tremendously effective . There’s some lovely unison simple arpeggio sequences embellishing his melancholy tunes. Equally there are some very demanding octave trills , consecutive sixths and all the other things that he found so easy as a great virtuoso.
His final piano solo pieces are so pared back in places they are playable by a decent grade 8 pianist - which is great as they are amongst the very finest piano works of the 19th century. Others like the variation sets are almost unplayable. In short there’s something for everyone !

[edashtav]

An interesting and well informed post, EH.
Thanks

[silvestrione]

ooh “inexperienced “ and “apprentice “ I’m not so sure. He was 25 by the time of the premiere . I don’t suppose any composer was better prepared in history for the various compositional challenges he set himself .. It’s funny a lot of Brahms early- ish piano sonatas are to me needlessly “thick “ in texture - a lot of notes at once.
By the first PC it’s amazing how much more spare he makes things (in places ) I think it’s an absolute masterpiece and I would particularly praise his piano writing. The way he often integrates simple two lines ( one in the bass and maybe octaves in the treble while the orchestra “fill in “ the harmonies - tremendously effective . There’s some lovely unison simple arpeggio sequences embellishing his melancholy tunes. Equally there are some very demanding octave trills , consecutive sixths and all the other things that he found so easy as a great virtuoso.
His final piano solo pieces are so pared back in places they are playable by a decent grade 8 pianist - which is great as they are amongst the very finest piano works of the 19th century. Others like the variation sets are almost unplayable. In short there’s something for everyone !

Yes thank you for that. I certainly don't find it 'inexperienced' or 'apprentice' work either, far from it. It's a great artist 'making it new', from the opening orchestral sound to the piano writing all through.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Great Beethoven 3rd PC this from Sir Stephen Hough . What wonderful scales and articulation. That 3rd movement was like a whirlwind .

[HighlandDougie]

Great Beethoven 3rd PC this from Sir Stephen Hough . What wonderful scales and articulation. That 3rd movement was like a whirlwind .

Wholly agree - it was one of the best LvB 3 performances I’ve heard in some time. Fine accompaniment as well as performance by Stephen Hough.

[Nick Armstrong]

ooh “inexperienced “ and “apprentice “ I’m not so sure. He was 25 by the time of the premiere . I don’t suppose any composer was better prepared in history for the various compositional challenges he set himself .. It’s funny a lot of Brahms early- ish piano sonatas are to me needlessly “thick “ in texture - a lot of notes at once.
By the first PC it’s amazing how much more spare he makes things (in places ) I think it’s an absolute masterpiece and I would particularly praise his piano writing. The way he often integrates simple two lines ( one in the bass and maybe octaves in the treble while the orchestra “fill in “ the harmonies - tremendously effective . There’s some lovely unison simple arpeggio sequences embellishing his melancholy tunes. Equally there are some very demanding octave trills , consecutive sixths and all the other things that he found so easy as a great virtuoso.

Yes Brahms’s 1st has been one of my most treasured piano concertos for over 40 years and the words “inexperienced” and “apprentice” have never ever occurred to me in connection with it…

[Ein Heldenleben]

Wholly agree - it was one of the best LvB 3 performances I’ve heard in some time. Fine accompaniment as well as performance by Stephen Hough.

He was on fire tonight wasn’t he ? Pretty much like one imagines Beethoven playing it . Really forceful and well characterised . So much so I don’t think the Chopin E flat Nocturne encore was right . Revolutionary Etude would have worked !

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes it’s been one of my most treasured piano concertos for over 40 years and the words “inexperienced” and “apprentice” have never ever occurred to me in connection with it…

I’d book an appointment for the Hough LVB 3rd just on - really good !

[Nick Armstrong]

I’d book an appointment for the Hough LVB 3rd just on - really good !

Yessir!