Brahms's Piano Music and Concerti.

[BBMmk2]

Well, it seems like there is an need(despite it being a brit months!?!?), formpeople to have a chat about the piano works of Johannes Brahms.

As far as sets go, there is no other than Julius Katchen's Decca set.

[Thropplenoggin]

4 Ballades, Michelangeli (DG)

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EDIT.

Cheers for starting to this one, BBM I don't know much else other than the PCs and the above.

[BBMmk2]

I love brahms's piano sonatas. So full of energy, etc.How do other boarders feel about these?

[EdgeleyRob]

I love brahms's piano sonatas. So full of energy, etc.How do other boarders feel about these?

The first two sonatas I find uninspiring,not sure why,but the third I really enjoy.
The remainder of the solo piano music is very special IMHO.
That Katchen box has been with me for many years BBM and what a magical collection it is.

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editorial/brahmss-piano-sonatas

[umslopogaas]

For the two concerti, it has to be Gilels with the BPO cond. Jochum, on DG. A famous set in its day, I have the LPs but it must have been transferred to CD.

[teamsaint]

The first two sonatas I find uninspiring,not sure why,but the third I really enjoy.
The remainder of the solo piano music is very special IMHO.
That Katchen box has been with me for many years BBM and what a magical collection it is.

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editoria...-piano-sonatas

I was struggling with the Sonatas a bit, and somebody round here (Roehre?) suggested I start at #3 and work backwards. Very good advice it was.

[Nick Armstrong]

For the two concerti, it has to be Gilels with the BPO cond. Jochum, on DG. A famous set in its day, I have the LPs but it must have been transferred to CD.

I love that set for No 1 - one of the great recordings of anything - but have never felt it catches No 2's rather different qualities... It's Richter with Leinsdorf (Chicago SO) that does it for me in No 2.

[amateur51]

4 Ballades, Michelangeli (DG)

Agreed Throppers but don't forget Kempff and Gilels too (Gilels 'live' is even better imho )

[BBMmk2]

Ah, thank you for that, Calii! Imo, I think Gilels is the master in both, but, hmmm, Richter/Leinsdorf!!

[EdgeleyRob]

Well,having just listened to Sonatas 1 & 2 again (Katchen) I'm afraid they just don't do it for me.
I'm no good at this music analysis malarkey,and who am I to question the great JB,but it's as if he is trying too hard to impress and IMO the pieces don't come off.
Maybe I'm talking rubbish again.
The playing is top notch btw.

Piano concerto no 1 it has to be Gilels,BPO Jochum.
However,this is my favourite concerto no 2 (Gilels,CSO,Reiner)

[Bryn]

Well,having just listened to Sonatas 1 & 2 again (Katchen) I'm afraid they just don't do it for me.
I'm no good at this music analysis malarkey,and who am I to question the great JB,but it's as if he is trying too hard to impress and IMO the pieces don't come off.
Maybe I'm talking rubbish again.
The playing is top notch btw.

Piano concerto no 1 it has to be Gilels,BPO Jochum.
However,this is my favourite concerto no 2 (Gilels,CSO,Reiner)

Quite agree. I have had that recording of the Second Concerto in a number of forms over the years, most recently as an item on a "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" double CD:

[Barbirollians]

Rubinstein's recordings of both concertos are not to be sniffed at either .

[amateur51]

Rubinstein's recordings of both concertos are not to be sniffed at either .

Nor the Horowitz recording of no 2 with Toscanini and (perversely) the recording of a 'live' performance of piano concerto no 1 by Horowitz and Bruno Walter/Concertgebouw - a 78 is missing in the first movement but their performance of the second and third movements more than makes up for this absence :winkerye:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Piano-Concertos-Nos-Horowitz/dp/B00004YU9T/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1370465804&sr=1-5&keywords=Brahms+piano+concerto+no+2+Horowitz

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Piano-Concerto-No-1-Horowitz/dp/B0000A1WJS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1370465860&sr=1-1&keywords=Brahms+piano+concerto+no+1+Horowitz

[Petrushka]

I strongly prefer the 2nd Piano Concerto over the 1st. My favourite recording of the 2nd is Wilhelm Backhaus with VPO/Böhm on a Decca CD.

[BBMmk2]

What do people here think of more recent recordings of the two pc's?