Brahms - The Late Piano Music.

[gradus]

I honestly think Steven Osborne is one of the greats . I went to an all Ravel recital of his at Snape Maltings and I was amazed not just at his technique but his phrasing , agogics , voicing - the whole thing really. On the Brahms front can I concur with the Lupu endorsements? And also put in a word for Julius Katchen whose performances I return to time and again. This late Brahms is sadly rarely publically performed - not flashy enough I guess - but the pieces are a real musical test - particularly of chord voicing and weighting as there is a lot of ,for want of a better word , thick chord writing .

Couldn't agree more about SO. I too was at the Ravel performance at Snape and he remains one of the pianists I would always try to hear.
On the topic of Brahms, Glen Gould's recordings of the last pieces are imv peerless.

[pastoralguy]

I've been searching through my shelves and found...

An EMI cd of Rudolf Firkušnŷ playing selections as well as the Two Viola Sonatas with William Primrose that appears to have been recorded circa 1958/59.

Géza Anda on Testament. The Intermezzi, Op.117 coupled with the 3rd Piano Sonata and the Paganini Variations.

David Wilde on Delphian playing Three Intermezzi, Op.117 with the Two Rhapsodies, Op.79, Variations on an Original Theme, Op.21. and the Handel Variations.

Markus Groh on AVIE playing the complete Op.116, Op.117, Op.118 & Op.119 works. (I remember Mrs. PG and me buying this cd in Bruges after hearing him play in a recital at their lovely concert hall).

A set of 4 discs on the LYRINX label of Marie-Josèphe Jude playing although I can only find the Op.117 works in terms of late Brahms.

A LOT of listening to catch up on!

[silvestrione]

I know of some great performances of individual pieces, e.g. Sviatoslav Richter in the last piece, the Rhapsody op 119: his large hands and strong fingers, and unmatched sense of rhythm, make him ideal, exhilarating (live from Lugano). Also, somewhere in his discography are superb versions of the E minor, and E major, from op 116. (I've just noticed the E minor is from that same Lugano recital)

Curzon is peerless in the playful C major from op 119.
Rubinstein has a wonderful version of the E flat minor masterpiece that finishes op 118.

I agree that Volodos is marvellous in all of op 118, as is Kempff, there, and throughout op 116, in older Decca recordings.

[pastoralguy]

Listening to Arcadi Volodos' recording of the Op.117 & Op.118 works. Absolutely sublime playing. (Although rather a pity the disc is 54 minutes long. Surely he could have included some Op.119 as well).

[Cockney Sparrow]

I've been happy with the Stefan Vladar (as a result of the BAL). Somehow it seems to deliver something more, more richly and vividly than the Radu Lupu (although the Lupu is of course is a good rendition). However, I haven't listened for a while, and piano music is not my area. I must listen again, and compare with the Volodos when i get the chance (if Sony puts it on its Naxos Music Library offering, or it makes it to Google Play (music).

[pastoralguy]

I've been happy with the Stefan Vladar (as a result of the BAL). Somehow it seems to deliver something more, more richly and vividly than the Radu Lupu (although the Lupu is of course is a good rendition). However, I haven't listened for a while, and piano music is not my area. I must listen again, and compare with the Volodos when i get the chance (if Sony puts it on its Naxos Music Library offering, or it makes it to Google Play (music).

Thank, CS. Also, Much Appreciation for all the contributions.

I listened to the Lupu Brahms 1st Piano Concerto yesterday and was a little disappointed at the recorded sound quality. I had to keep cranking up the volume to get any impact - NOT a problem with the Hough recording on Hyperion where I jumped out my seat. (I was also amazed to find the recording had been made in Salzburg at exactly the same time I was there!)

[Cockney Sparrow]

Thank, CS. Also, Much Appreciation for all the contributions.

I listened to the Lupu Brahms 1st Piano Concerto yesterday and was a little disappointed at the recorded sound quality. I had to keep cranking up the volume to get any impact......

I find that interesting. Its a while since I listened to the Lupu, in particular, and I had wondered if the impression I hold relates to a rather neutral recorded sound - a little surprised, as its Decca. Nonetheless I made a mental note to check that aspect when I listen next - hopefully soon (I have the Decca Lupu box).

[akiralx]

My LP start was mainly around the piano pieces op76 and 116-119 from Katchen's Decca Ace of Diamonds series, supplemented by DGG Gilels op10 and op116 (116/1 incomparable IMHO) and a couple of Pye Virtuoso discs by one Balint Vaszonyi(*)

(*) I believe I once heard a wonderful story on R3 of this pianist getting his cuff-links interlocked during a fast double octave passage!

I recall from EMI producer Suvi Raj Grubb's entertaining memoirs that Brendel and Barenboim suffered this exact mishap during a duet recital at the RFH.

Also as someone understandably mentioned Kovacevich in late Brahms, I will add that one of SK's own favourite recordings of which he is particularly proud (according to the entertaining YouTube video he made promoting his Complete Philips Recordings boxset) is of the Op.76 pieces, which I suppose count as late-ish?

[BBMmk2]

My favourite has to be Julius Katchen.

[Barbirollians]

My favourite has to be Julius Katchen.

I am with you . His Decca box of Brahms piano music is a box of endless delights.

[cloughie]

I am with you . His Decca box of Brahms piano music is a box of endless delights.

Katchen’s box of everything he recorded for Decca ( I think it is complete) including the Brahms Violin Sonatas with Josef Suk and the Brahms Piano Concerti with the LSO conducted 1 Monteux and 2 Ferencsik.

[DoctorT]

Anyone else enjoying Paul Lewis’s new late Brahms recording? It received a strong recommendation on RR this morning. I listened to it last night. Could well become one of my favourite late night listens

[jayne lee wilson]

Anyone else enjoying Paul Lewis’s new late Brahms recording? It received a strong recommendation on RR this morning. I listened to it last night. Could well become one of my favourite late night listens

Added to the Qobuz Playlist.....one for the insomniac hours....

[pastoralguy]

Anyone else enjoying Paul Lewis’s new late Brahms recording? It received a strong recommendation on RR this morning. I listened to it last night. Could well become one of my favourite late night listens

My copy arrived at lunchtime. Looking forward to hearing it.

[ostuni]

I bought Stephen Hough's recording last year, but have never got round to listening to it properly. I'm putting that right now, and at the same time comparing with the Lewis on Qobuz; only just started, so nothing significant to say yet. Kath Cooper, at Presto, has some useful observations here: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...m_medium=email