BaL 16.03.19 - Brahms: Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat

[jayne lee wilson]

Rooting around in the owl hours I was stunned to discover this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005DZIMDO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...I didn't need telling twice! Ordered it straight away.
Later I found a very positive review in Gramophone for 1/2012 (the ever-authoritative SP).... the instrument used is an Erard.

It is on Qobuz, but as usual with MDG unavailable to stream, and no booklet. This doesn't seem available even on the MDG website, so CD it is...
If anyone finds other unfamiliar period instrument or chamber orchestral versions of Brahms Orchestrals please do highlight them here.
Maybe Venzago will get around to the concertos following the Tapiola Sinfonietta Symphonies/Serenades...

Incidentally, there's another B Flat Concerto in the intriguing New SWR box of 1950-62 Brahms recordings, with Geza Anda/SWRB-BSO and Hans Rosbaud... (split 2/2 across two CDs....duh..!.)

Thankfully, you can stream this one...

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/brahms-symphonies-piano-concertos-serenades-hans-rosbaud-sudwestfunkorchester-baden-baden/qlq61su6c2cgc

[MickyD]

Rooting around in the owl hours I was stunned to discover this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005DZIMDO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...I didn't need telling twice! Ordered it straight away.
Later I found a very positive review in Gramophone for 1/2012 (the ever-authoritative SP).... the instrument used is an Erard.

It is on Qobuz, but as usual with MDG unavailable to stream, and no booklet. This doesn't seem available even on the MDG website, so CD it is...
If anyone finds other unfamiliar period instrument or chamber orchestral versions of Brahms Orchestrals please do highlight them here.
Maybe Venzago will get around to the concertos following the Tapiola Sinfonietta Symphonies/Serenades...

Incidentally, there's another B Flat Concerto in the intriguing New SWR box of 1950-62 Brahms recordings, with Geza Anda/SWRB-BSO and Hans Rosbaud... (split 2/2 across two CDs....duh..!.)

Thankfully, you can stream this one...
https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/br.../qlq61su6c2cgc

Yes, this period instrument performance of the First Concerto has been around for a while, 2013 I think and it's surprising that it's never got much attention. It's fascinating to be sure. Pity the same forces never recorded the Second, and I'm surprised that some of our own home-grown HIP groups have never got round to doing them.

[verismissimo]

Rooting around in the owl hours I was stunned to discover this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005DZIMDO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...I didn't need telling twice! Ordered it straight away.
Later I found a very positive review in Gramophone for 1/2012 (the ever-authoritative SP).... the instrument used is an Erard.

Well spotted Jayne. Likewise ordered. Wonder why they used an Erard already 28 years old in 1882? Now we need No 2 as proposed. Come on OAE.


I already have plenty of big-band recordings acquired over several decades - Fischer, Arrau, Serkin, Gilels and your beloved Horowitz …

[BBMmk2]

I love this work. A Facebook friend pointed Mei. The direction of Artur Rubenstein’s recording, CSO/Reiner. Fabulous recording. I still have a fondness for the classic Gilels.

[gurnemanz]

Rooting around in the owl hours I was stunned to discover this -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005DZIMDO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

...I didn't need telling twice! Ordered it straight away.
Later I found a very positive review in Gramophone for 1/2012 (the ever-authoritative SP).... the instrument used is an Erard.

It is on Qobuz, but as usual with MDG unavailable to stream, and no booklet. This doesn't seem available even on the MDG website, so CD it is...
If anyone finds other unfamiliar period instrument or chamber orchestral versions of Brahms Orchestrals please do highlight them here.
Maybe Venzago will get around to the concertos following the Tapiola Sinfonietta Symphonies/Serenades...

[/URL]

Thanks for pointing out. Immediately interested. Saw that Amazon gives 1-3 months dispatch time for CD and impatiently jumped to YouTube whence I've mp3d to laptop.

[verismissimo]

Just spotted these concerts at RFH in London next week. OAE with Andras Schiff. Piano undisclosed!

http://www.oae.co.uk/

[Tony Halstead]

The piano will be a Blüthner.
This is not just a guess; yesterday I called in very briefly at an OAE rehearsal and saw the piano.

[Bryn]

The piano will be a Blüthner.
This is not just a guess; yesterday I called in very briefly at an OAE rehearsal and saw the piano.

Any hint of future broadcasts, or commercial recordings, Tony? Blüthner having started business in 1853, I wonder when the instrument(s) used for these concertos was/were built?

[Tony Halstead]

Any hint of future broadcasts, or commercial recordings, Tony? Blüthner having started business in 1853, I wonder when the instrument(s) used for these concertos was/were built?

Unfortunately the piano was closed and I simply didn't have time to open the lid, get the serial number etc.; however, judging by the style of the casework, I'd make a very approximate guess that it was made in the 1870s-1880s.

[silvestrione]

Correct.
Stephen Johnson 2001
First Choice:
Solomon (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra, Issay Dobrowen (conductor)
(1947, mono)
Stereo Choice:
Stephen Kovacevich (piano), London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis (conductor)
(1979)

Does anyone else remember the time before that (or before that) when Joseph Cooper (I think it was) teased us by comparing and finding wanting lots of named performers with a 'mystery' version which he said was just too obviously far ahead of the field? At the end of course he revealed that it was...

[vinteuil]

Does anyone else remember the time before that (or before that) when Joseph Cooper (I think it was) teased us by comparing and finding wanting lots of named performers with a 'mystery' version which he said was just too obviously far ahead of the field? At the end of course he revealed that it was...

... Joyce Hatto?


.

[Bryn]

... Joyce Hatto?


.

[silvestrione]

[vinteuil]

... ah yes!

https://web.archive.org/web/20150820204412/http://www.pristineclassical.com/HattoHoax5.html

.

[MickyD]

Not an orchestral disc, but Melnikov playing on an 1875 Bosendorfer is worth hearing.