Brahms piano sonata No.3

[Don Petter]

Julius Katchen (Decca) my favourite, but would also rate Arrau (Philips) and Lupu (Decca) highly. Katchen the most flamboyant and Lupu surprisingly "sotto voce" in the opening. In fact all three take a different view of the work.

I rate Lupu very highly in Brahms, and have the Decca 3CD set, which I bought after coming across a 2CD set (including the 3rd Sonata) which came with the Italian magazine ClassicVoice (no. 140, 2012). I thought at first that the two sets might be different recordings, but have now found an ASIN reference for the latter which would imply they are the same.

Wonderful, maybe slightly understated, playing which is how I like my Brahms.

[Roehre]

My only two recordings are Rubinstein and Helene Grimaud. Guess which I prefer.

Katchen? As I do

[Pianophile]

Ha! Gimme Annie Fischer every time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdbrvoXk2yQ

Agree wholeheartedly! Incredible 'live' recording from the Edinburgh Festival

[Dave2002]

I have Jonathan Plowright playing this Sonata on the Kingdom label - a very difficult disc to get, apparently. It's a very powerful performance which suits the character of the work. I will have to listen to some of these other performances people have mentioned...

Is that the version which is now on a BIS SACD? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Sonat...than+plowright

Perhaps was earlier KCLCD 2016 - see this bit of an extract - http://www.jonathanplowright.com/JP%...ew%20page3.pdf

Perhaps not though - see the list at http://www.jonathanplowright.com/Discography.html

[Pianorak]

Thanks for posting, Dave. Have now ordered. Jonathan Plowright was for me always the highlight of the Brighton Music Festival in the 90s, when he appeared at the Friends' Meeting House, a small, intimate venue. A truly outstanding pianist.

[Dave2002]

This is also available from Presto at a reasonable price this month - http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/BIS/BIS2047 for anyone who doesn't want to put money in the direction of the river people or their marketplace sellers.

[Alison]

No votes for Bazza Douglas ?

I'm delighted that Jonathan Plowright has come to the fore. He never was one for cheap thrills, even as a student.

[Jonathan]

Is that the version which is now on a BIS SACD? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Sonat...than+plowright

Perhaps was earlier KCLCD 2016 - see this bit of an extract - http://www.jonathanplowright.com/JP%...ew%20page3.pdf

Perhaps not though - see the list at http://www.jonathanplowright.com/Discography.html

Hi Dave,
It's the Kingdom one - I got this when i was a student. I believe the label no longer exists!

[Dave2002]

Hi Dave,
It's the Kingdom one - I got this when i was a student. I believe the label no longer exists!

I'm now guessing that this really is different from the BIS one, though not absolutely sure. Did BIS re-record it? Just possible that they could have bought the Kingdom masters, or a licence for them.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm now guessing that this really is different from the BIS one, though not absolutely sure. Did BIS re-record it? Just possible that they could have bought the Kingdom masters, or a licence for them.

As the couplings are completely different it's surely a new recording, isn't it?

[Jonathan]

Having looked at the timings of both Jonathan Plowright recordings, I can confirm the BIS one is a new recording:

Timings:
Kingdom KCLCD2016:
Allegro maestoso - 10'03
Andante espressivo - 11'09
Scherzo: Allegro energico - 4'16
Intermezzo: Andante molto - 4'23
Allegro moderato ma rubato - 7'00

BIS:
Allegro maestoso - 10'46
Andante espressivo - 14'00
Scherzo: Allegro energico - 4'39
Intermezzo: Andante molto - 5'16
Allegro moderato ma rubato - 7'56

Quite different - might have to buy that one too...
Hope this helps!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Having looked at the timings of both Jonathan Plowright recordings, I can confirm the BIS one is a new recording:

Timings:
Kingdom KCLCD2016:
Allegro maestoso - 10'03
Andante espressivo - 11'09
Scherzo: Allegro energico - 4'16
Intermezzo: Andante molto - 4'23
Allegro moderato ma rubato - 7'00

BIS:
Allegro maestoso - 10'46
Andante espressivo - 14'00
Scherzo: Allegro energico - 4'39
Intermezzo: Andante molto - 5'16
Allegro moderato ma rubato - 7'56

Quite different - might have to buy that one too...
Hope this helps!

Looking at the way he seems to be slowing down with age, he could be Otto Klemperer reincarnate

[Dave2002]

As the couplings are completely different it's surely a new recording, isn't it?

Not necessarily - how do you think some companies manage to keep churning out the same old stuff in different guises? However the question has now been answered satisfactorily by jonathan.

[Dave2002]

Quite different - might have to buy that one too...

You can sample it (or, indeed, play it right through) at Spotify - http://open.spotify.com/album/4FmWHjidfZpRihMxn5J8Nk
and let us know how the versions compare.

[Nick Armstrong]

Wilhelm Kempff anyone?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kempff-Brahms-Schumann-Papillons-Fantasie/dp/B004PLAHB2

Bought this for the Schumann. It's my only version of the Brahms PS3...