Brahms piano music

[silvestrione]

Does anyone get close to Rubinstein across the solo pieces - just listening at my desk to his Ballades now - magnificent .

I learnt the pieces from a Rubinstein LP that I loved, with a corny title something like The Brahms I Love. But what music, and what piano playing! Ballades, Rhapsodies, and in particular op 118 no 6, with the grandest climax I have ever heard, amongst much poignant poetry.

Heard Gilels do the Ballades live, also wonderful.

[mathias broucek]

I learnt the pieces from a Rubinstein LP that I loved, with a corny title something like The Brahms I Love. But what music, and what piano playing! Ballades, Rhapsodies, and in particular op 118 no 6, with the grandest climax I have ever heard, amongst much poignant poetry.

Heard Gilels do the Ballades live, also wonderful.

Lupu and Kovacevich for me in the late works. There's a bizarre Pogorelich recital of Brahms. I can normally cope with his eccentricities as he's interesting but the Brahms disc is pretty lame (silly tempi, bizarre voicings, stop-start).

[jayne lee wilson]

The Op.10 Ballades are an iconic work for me! Michelangeli's DG Studio version is fine, but the version I turn to most is the Live in Lugano one on Aura Music, from 1981 (c/w equally striking Schubert Op. Posth. A major D53). Very good just-before-bed music...

[mathias broucek]

The Op.10 Ballades are an iconic work for me! Michelangeli's DG Studio version is fine, but the version I turn to most is the Live in Lugano one on Aura Music, from 1981 (c/w equally striking Schubert Op. Posth. A major D53). Very good just-before-bed music...

Those Aura boxes have some great material, don't they? I must have another listen to the Ballades later today!

[akiralx]

As well as Michelangeli, Pantillon on Claves is v good in the op.10 Ballades and opp.117-118.

I must say Kissin is now my favourite in the Sonata No 3 op.5, and I am a bit of a collector of versions of it (Lupu, Zimerman are also good). Superb recording too, not always the case with Kissin's RCA/BMG CDs.

[vinteuil]

... most often I seem to go back to -

Stephen Kovacevitch (philips duo Late Piano Music [116-119, 79, 76])
Nicholas Angelich (virgin: op 116-119)
Wilhelm Kempff (DG: op 116 -119)
Stefan Vladar (harmonia mundi: op 116-119)
Glenn Gould (columbia: ballades op 10; 10 intermezzi [from 76 - 119])
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (aura op 10 and Pag Vars)

[Nick Armstrong]

... most often I seem to go back to -
...

Stefan Vladar (harmonia mundi: op 116-119)
...

I have that too, marvellous. My other set, along with Alexeev.

[BBMmk2]

I have the Decca Julius Katchen set. I dont think anyoine has mentioned this box set b efore?Absolute first class performances throughout this set.

[amateur51]

As well as Michelangeli, Pantillon on Claves is v good in the op.10 Ballades and opp.117-118.

I must say Kissin is now my favourite in the Sonata No 3 op.5, and I am a bit of a collector of versions of it (Lupu, Zimerman are also good). Superb recording too, not always the case with Kissin's RCA/BMG CDs.

Many thanks for reminding me about Zimerman's performance, akiralx - I have it only on tape so I must set about finding it on CD lest I should find that the tape has stretched/disintegrated

[EdgeleyRob]

I have the Decca Julius Katchen set. I dont think anyoine has mentioned this box set b efore?Absolute first class performances throughout this set.

I agree BBM, I've had that set for years,no need for any other IMO.

[Barbirollians]

At the risk of opprobrium I have always found Katchen's Brahms a bit heavy and Rubinstein lets in more light .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have the Decca Julius Katchen set. I dont think anyoine has mentioned this box set b efore?Absolute first class performances throughout this set.

Ammie in #2 and wotsisname in #4, Bbm. Still an accurate point!

At the risk of opprobrium I have always found Katchen's Brahms a bit heavy

Consider yourself duly opprobed!

[Don Petter]

Interesting - How did Barbi become Bobo? Another Forum hiccough?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Interesting - How did Barbi become Bobo? Another Forum hiccough?

No a ferney-hiccough. Trying to be too clever-by-arf, I tried to make a double pun on the Barbirolli/Bob O'Reilly nickname, but it doesn't work as a single word in lower case!

[Don Petter]

No a ferney-hiccough. Trying to be too clever-by-arf, I tried to make a double pun on the Barbirolli/Bob O'Reilly nickname, but it doesn't work as a single word in lower case!

Ah! Sorry to miss your humour, which was totally lost on me, never having heard the Irish moniker. So we can still sleep easy in our beds.