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

[Ein Heldenleben]

The left hand of the 1st movt. section that Schnabel played so magnificently (albeit with a few tactfully omitted notes ) and Barenboim so lumpily is much more difficult than the right hand D major thirds that Zimmerman played so beautifully . I should know - I can't play either.

[Mal]

.....and the winner is on....DG. They own this concerto!

Not with Szell et. al. on Sony!

[Tony Halstead]

Not with Szell et. al. on Sony!

Do you mean Serkin/ Szell
or Fleisher /Szell ?

[Bryn]

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

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

The programme booklet can be viewed here.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I missed the beginning (recovering from the Park Run). But when I switched the radio on, the excerpt made me sit up in wonder. It turned out to be the Zimerman, and I ended up agreeing with Tom Service for the first time ever. I shall be ordering this.

[DracoM]

What you might call Self Service.

[Tony Halstead]

I missed the beginning (recovering from the Park Run). But when I switched the radio on, the excerpt made me sit up in wonder. It turned out to be the Zimerman, and I ended up agreeing with Tom Service for the first time ever. I shall be ordering this.

Me too

[Maclintick]

The programme booklet can be viewed here.

...& here -- I think I spotted on another thread that Sir Andras will be playing a Blüthner,
but perhaps he's doing a violin transcription ... & shape-shifting in the process.

[antongould]

I missed the beginning (recovering from the Park Run). But when I switched the radio on, the excerpt made me sit up in wonder. It turned out to be the Zimerman, and I ended up agreeing with Tom Service for the first time ever. I shall be ordering this.

Got my vote too ..... and dare I say that overall I thought it was an excellent BAL ...... ????

[Richard Tarleton]

Got my vote too ..... and dare I say that overall I thought it was an excellent BAL ...... ????

+ 1

[edashtav]

So far he seems to be favouring the penny plain Buchbinder , the rather indulgent Zimerman ( a recording which I love but it is not a BAL choice for me ) Pollini/Abbado and this Berezovsky account.

I found your comment helpful, Barbirollians. My finger was poised to order the Zimerman but I needed reassurance because I find Bernstein'sc hyper emotionalism irritating. I need a CD for I've heard this concerto live more frequently than any other, I posses a miniature score, I love the piece but I own neither an LP nor a CD. "Rather indulgent" brought me up short , so I've selected you 'penny plain' alternative

[gurnemanz]

I found your comment helpful, Barbirollians. My finger was poised to order the Zimerman but I needed reassurance because I find bernstein's hyper emotionalism irritating. I need a CD for I've heard this concerto live more frequently than any other, I posses a miniature score, I love the piece but I own neither an LP nor a CD. "Rather indulgent" brought me up short , so I've selected you 'penny plain' alternative

Thanks for above thoughts. Zimermann is clearly a fine version and I shall audition it on Spotify. I don't know Buchbinder's playing at all and will also give that a listen. I already have several good recordings on CD (including his runner-up, the excellent Rubinstein/Krips) and I suspect I won't end up buying another.

[Mal]

Do you mean Serkin/ Szell
or Fleisher /Szell ?

I gave bracing Serkin/Szell another run through, after Service's bracing BAL, and now I like it again . I think I'll keep it as my library copy (maybe Gilel's/Jochum, although beautiful, is a bit on the tame side ) Fleisher's also good though,... flip a coin, or maybe three dice...

[Pulcinella]

I gave bracing Serkin/Szell another run through, after Service's bracing BAL, and now I like it again . I think I'll keep it as my library copy (maybe Gilel's/Jochum, although beautiful, is a bit on the tame side ) Fleisher's also good though,... flip a coin, or maybe three dice...

Yes, tame is probably a better choice of word than my 'safe' in post #71.

[Bryn]

this is another performance not the DG recording?

If you are referring to the YouTube item I linked to, check the poster's nod to DG as the source. The performance was given in 1983 with the forces cited for the 1984 issued CD. There may have been some parching from rehearsals, etc. but I think you will find it is essentially the same performance.