Recordings That You Are Considering

[Renfield]

Isn't our very own Harry the living version of the CPO catalogue, though; readily available for consultation?

[scarpia]

Isn't our very own Harry the living version of the CPO catalogue, though; readily available for consultation?

Yes, he is a living CPO catalog.  He comes complete with a testimonial of how every single CPO release is exquisit, deeply felt, and how he will listen to it every day from now on.  Based on the number of records he claims to listen to every day, there must be a 700 hour day wherever he lives.

[Harry]

Yes, he is a living CPO catalog.  He comes complete with a testimonial of how every single CPO release is exquisit, deeply felt, and how he will listen to it every day from now on.  Based on the number of records he claims to listen to every day, there must be a 700 hour day wherever he lives.

Yes thank you Scarpia, you are being nice again. Learn some manners and social behavior, somehow you seemed to have lost the capability. Hammering on my nose in this way works counter productive. You seek every opportunity to do so. I do not remember doing that to you, so please seek someone else for your amusement dude.

[mahler10th]

Well, I'm bloody glad there IS an expert in here, regardless of his preferred label(s).
I have a number of recordings on the CPO label, one of my favourites being their release of the Ferdinand Ries Symphonies.  Thanks for the Catalogue link SonicMan, downloading it now.

[SonicMan46]

Well, I'm bloody glad there IS an expert in here, regardless of his preferred label(s).
I have a number of recordings on the CPO label, one of my favourites being their release of the Ferdinand Ries Symphonies.  Thanks for the Catalogue link SonicMan, downloading it now.

Hi Mahler10, I own dozens of CPO discs (mainly blame Harry -  ) - looks like I'll be adding more!  I have 2 of the CPO Ries Symphonies, but added the complete collection to the list mentioned, plus another one of his Piano Quartets - might see a bunch of CPO discs appearing in the 'Listening Thread' in the near future w/ my avartar attached! -   

[The new erato]

I have a number of recordings on the CPO label, one of my favourites being their release of the Ferdinand Ries Symphonies. 

These are now being packaged in a box and will presumably be available at a reduced price.

[Florestan]

What do you think of these? Any better alternatives?

[orbital]

What do you think of these? Any better alternatives?

you mean the sonatas? or Brahms piano music in general?
I don't care much (if at all) for his PSs and AFAIK they are not recorded much apart from complete sets. I'd recommend Idil Biret on Naxos. She is quite good with Brahms, more so in the sonatas.

However if you are interested in the late pieces, there are tons of better Brahms pianists than Ax (and even Richter    *docks*)

[Sergeant Rock]

What do you think of these? Any better alternatives?

Better is subjective and I won't say these recordings are better, but I prefer Grimaud's Brahms, the composer she loves best and wth whom she feels the most affinity. The sonatas were recorded early in her career and reflect a young person's view of Brahms. In the late works she brings out fully their quirkiness.








The sonatas and the first traversal of op.118 can be had cheap in a Brilliant box:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/1482210?rk=classic&rsk=hitlist



Sarge

[Florestan]

you mean the sonatas? or Brahms piano music in general?

However if you are interested in the late pieces, there are tons of better Brahms pianists than Ax (and even Richter    *docks*)

Thanks for the reply. I meant only the sonatas, not the late pieces.

[Florestan]

Thanks Sarge as well.

[Harry]

What do you think of these? Any better alternatives?

I have the complete piano works played by Biret, and to be honest, its quite good, so much so, that I never felt the need to purchase another set. She has a genial feel for Brahms, and her fingers obey to the demands. You could do much worse, Andrei.
My two cents....

[George]

However if you are interested in the late pieces, there are tons of better Brahms pianists than Ax (and even Richter    *docks*)

[George]

What do you think of these? Any better alternatives?

They lie further down the mountain. 

Seriously, I am not sure if I have heard that one. I have a few recordings of these works by Richter (Praga and the ones in the Master Series?) These works haven't grabbed me yet.    

[Florestan]

Thanks, George and Harry.

I've noticed that there are very few recordings of Brahms' piano sonatas and I wonder why. Are they so bad? I've never heard them but I don't think Brahms ever published anything less than excellent.

[George]

Thanks, George and Harry.

I've noticed that there are very few recordings of Brahms' piano sonatas and I wonder why. Are they so bad? I've never heard them but I don't think Brahms ever published anything less than excellent.

Sorry the female pianist I have is playing the Schumann Sonatas.

[orbital]

Seriously, I am not sure if I have heard that one.

Aren't these included in Praga #6?

[Sergeant Rock]

Thanks, George and Harry.

I've noticed that there are very few recordings of Brahms' piano sonatas and I wonder why. Are they so bad? I've never heard them but I don't think Brahms ever published anything less than excellent.

Well, you have to remember the sonatas are very early Brahms, composed when he was in his teens. The first two may be structurally weak compared to a classical sonata but they have a marvelous youthful "Romantic" exuberance that often reminds me of Schumann (you can hear Beethoven and Schubert, too, especially in the C Major sonata).  The Third Sonata in F minor is considered to be a masterpiece though. Malcolm MacDonald says, "The result stands with Liszt's B minor Sonata and the Grande Sonate of Alkan as one of the three greatest sonatas of the mid-nineteenth century."

Buy with confidence.

Sarge

[George]

Aren't these included in Praga #6?

Different performance.

#


# Sonata No. 1 in C, opus 1

    * (Mantova, 27 May 1986)
          o Decca / London 436457 (CD) or Decca 455976 (CD) or 458807 (CD) [ labelled 2/1987 ]
            [ Decca 455976 was included with the Italian magazine Amadeus as part of a feature on Richter, and was not available separately. ]
          o Amadeus AM 094 (CD) [ labelled 2/1987 ]
    * (Tours, 19 June 1988) on Philips 438477 (CD)
    * (Hasselburg, 10 July 1988) on RCA 60859 (CD) [ or Lübeck, 4 July ? ]
    * (Prague, 20 July 1988) on Praga PR 254 059 (CD)

# Sonata No. 2 in f-sharp minor, opus 2

    * (Pilzen, 13 June 1984) on Praga PR 254 059 (CD)
    * (Mantova, 27 May 1986)
          o Decca / London 436457 (CD) or Decca 455976 or 458807 (CD) [ labelled 2/1987 ]
          o Amadeus AM 094 (CD) [ labelled 2/1987 ]
    * (Tours, 19 June 1988) on Philips 438477 (CD)
      (Scherzo only, from Tours, 19 June) on Philips 454166 (CD) or 454168 (CD)

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The first two may be structurally weak compared to a classical sonata but they have a marvelous youthful "Romantic" exuberance that often reminds me of Schumann (you can hear Beethoven and Schubert, too, especially in the C Major sonata).  The Third Sonata in F minor is considered to be a masterpiece though.

Yes, agree on all counts. I absolutely love the fist two Brahms sonatas, perhaps because the recording I have is that Decca Richter disc mentioned above. What makes Richter particularly successful is his ability to bring out the "Schumann-ness" in the works. That is, what poetry is present is played up for all its worth, which goes a long way toward keeping the music bound together.

For the third sonata, I have four versions: Sokolov, Siirala, Solomon, and Lupu (haven't heard Ax). What's particularly memorable about this work (masterpiece) is that cute little trill that dances all over the second movement. It's a "tingle-maker" and is a source of constant joy every time it appears.