Brahms: Orchestral Music

[Hornspieler]

...Only have Arrau/Haitink, Gilels/Jochum, Pollini/Abbado and Brendel/Abbado in both Piano Concertos, one or two others as single issues.

My first acquaintance with the second piano concerto was the vynil 6 disk recording by Solomon with the Philharmonia conducted by Issay Dobrowen. (Opening solo by Dennis Brain.) I played it until the disks looked like liquorice wheels; but I have subsequently obtained the CD from TESTAMENT records which also includes:

Rhapsody in G minor Op.79 Nº 2
Intermezzo in B flat minor Op.117 Nº 2
and
Intermezzo in C major Op.119 Nº 3 (previously unpublished

SBT 1042

HS

[Barbirollians]

I couldn't agree more HS . Have been reading Bryan Crimp's biography of Solomon .His stroke was such a tragedy for him and for music . His last 32 years of life seem very tough and of course he amazingly went right back to scratch after a breakdown following his exploitation as a child prodigy .

A pianist right at the top of my personal league ! His Beethoven sonata and Chopin recordings as well as his concerto recordings in particular .

[amateur51]

I couldn't agree more HS . Have been reading Bryan Crimp's biography of Solomon .His stroke was such a tragedy for him and for music . His last 32 years of life seem very tough and of course he amazingly went right back to scratch after a breakdown following his exploitation as a child prodigy .

A pianist right at the top of my personal league ! His Beethoven sonata and Chopin recordings as well as his concerto recordings in particular .

I agree, his Chopin is wonderful too. All his recordings are worth listening to. He's one of my personal favourites and it is one of my regrets that he did not complete a cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas - but what we have is treasured

HS is right about that Brahms piano concerto no 2

[Thropplenoggin]

I agree, his Chopin is wonderful too. All his recordings are worth listening to. He's one of my personal favourites and it is one of my regrets that he did not complete a cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas - but what we have is treasured

HS is right about that Brahms piano concerto no 2

Solomon's Beethoven is a favourite of mine, too. I wonder if anyone can tell me if the Testament recordings of them are that much better than those on EMI?

[BBMmk2]

One of my favourite Brahms pianists was Julius Katchen

[Hornspieler]

One of my favourite Brahms pianists was Julius Katchen

And mine!!

HS

[cloughie]

One of my favourite Brahms pianists was Julius Katchen

Mine too. PC1 LSO Monteux, PC2 LSO Ferencsik - to my knowledge his only recording for Decca or the LSO. Was he drafted in late because of the indisposition or even demise of the great M. Monteux?

[BBMmk2]

Perhaps a thread on brahms's piano music might be in order?

[Thropplenoggin]

Perhaps a thread on brahms's piano music might be in order?

[BBMmk2]

If you like, then I will!! :)

[BBMmk2]

I'm thinking about buying the complete Abbado Brahms DG set?

[Barbirollians]

Did you BBM ? When I last looked surprisingly buying the four CDs of the symphonies separately on Amazon was cheaper than the box.

I know some people find the sound and textures a bit thick but in my opinion they are immensely satisfying performances. The Fourth was the last of them I bought and was sitting unopened on the shelf until a couple of weeks ago . The playing of the BPO is out of this world the sound of those strings gives me goosebumps . The performance of the 4th is propulsive yet has a slow movement of such tenderness .The third movement is truly [I]giocoso[I] and the finale's passacaglia is superbly structured and inexorable .

Very much a library choice I would say - and the Hayden Variations are pretty wonderful too and Nanie a fascinating piece unknown to me .

[muzzer]

How long before Abbado's BPO output on DG gets the reissue treatment? The current issues are imho priced well over the odds.

[Barbirollians]

How long before Abbado's BPO output on DG gets the reissue treatment? The current issues are imho priced well over the odds.

They have been full price since they were released. I imagine they are still selling sufficiently .

They can be obtained for mid price prices by looking around on the internet.

[jayne lee wilson]

Am I the only Brahmsian revisionist around here? No-one else got into the splendid Helsingborg/Manze Symphonies?(IRR 4/2012/NS). Loved Mackerras/SCO, Berglund/COE and the great bite and verve of Harnoncourt/Berlin Phil live too...