Brahms' Piano Concertos

Poetdante · April 11, 2007, 08:02:09 AM

I've heard some recordings of these huge concertos.
However, there is not a 'BEST' in his second concertos.

Concerto No.1 - I think this is a real 'legendary' playing.

Anyone can recommend great performance of 2nd concerto for me???

rappy · April 11, 2007, 08:08:34 AM

Nothing else but Richter/Leinsdorf

BachQ · April 11, 2007, 08:41:24 AM

Quote from: Poetdante on April 11, 2007, 08:02:09 AM
Anyone can recommend great performance of 2nd concerto for me???

Brahms Piano Concerto no. 2 (post-1960 recordings)

5/++

Gilels / Jochum
Richter / Leinsdorf
Fleisher / Szell
Rubinstein / Krips

5/+

Gilels / Reiner
R. Serkin / Szell
Zimerman / Bernstein
Backhaus / Bohm

5

Cliburn / Reiner
Solomon / Dobrowen
P. Serkin / Shaw
Katchen / Ferencsik
Serkin / Ormandy

5-/4.5+

Arrau / Haitink
Ashkenazy / Haitink
Brendel / Abbado
Weissenberg / Maag
Pollini / Abbado

4/4.5

Watts / Bernstein
Guiterrez / Previn
Ax / Haitink
Gelber / Kempe
Moravec / Belohlavek
Leonskaja / Masur

MishaK · April 11, 2007, 10:48:00 AM

In addition to the ones mentioned here, I'd like to throw in a vote for Barenboim/Barbirolli. Very fine readings with soloist and conductor on the same wavelength. Overall, my favorite remains Gilels/Jochum, though.

Speaking of Barenboim, there is a lovely live performance of No.2 with Celi on youtube, if marred by an awfully wooden cello solo.

George · April 11, 2007, 11:04:17 AM

Quote from: O Mensch on April 11, 2007, 10:48:00 AM
In addition to the ones mentioned here, I'd like to throw in a vote for Barenboim/Barbirolli. Very fine readings with soloist and conductor on the same wavelength.

Yes, I herad this great performance over the weekend. Its excellent!

Quote
Speaking of Barenboim, there is a lovely live performance of No.2 with Celi on youtube, if marred by an awfully wooden cello solo.

Thanks, I'm watching this now.

Holden · April 11, 2007, 02:25:37 PM

As far as I'm concerned there is a best and it's already been mentioned - Richter/Leinsdorf!!!!!

MishaK · April 11, 2007, 02:30:20 PM

Quote from: Holden on April 11, 2007, 02:25:37 PM
As far as I'm concerned there is a best and it's already been mentioned - Richter/Leinsdorf!!!!!

I find that one disappointingly stiff and unpoetic.

rappy · April 11, 2007, 02:35:05 PM

Fantastic use of irony, O Mensch.
Improve your rhetoric skills by not using it if it's too obvious - otherwise it will lose its effect.

MishaK · April 11, 2007, 02:38:39 PM

Quote from: rappy on April 11, 2007, 02:35:05 PM
Fantastic use of irony, O Mensch.
Improve your rhetoric skills by not using it if it's too obvious - otherwise it will lose its effect.

Arhoo? I am missing your point entirely.

rappy · April 11, 2007, 02:44:39 PM

For get it. This was my interpretation of your reply (you just said something negative about the greatest recording in history)

MishaK · April 11, 2007, 02:56:29 PM

Quote from: rappy on April 11, 2007, 02:44:39 PM
For get it. This was my interpretation of your reply (you just said something negative about the greatest recording in history)

Well, sorry to disappoint you. Richter certainly is one of the greatest pianists (I love his Brahms sonatas on Decca), but here he is paired with one of the stiffest and charmless conductors. It just doesn't make for good Brahms. Sorry.

Maciek · April 11, 2007, 03:13:42 PM

Quote from: D Minor on April 11, 2007, 08:41:24 AM
Brahms Piano Concerto no. 2 (post-1960 recordings)

5/++

Gilels / Jochum
Richter / Leinsdorf
Fleisher / Szell
Rubinstein / Krips

5/+

Gilels / Reiner
R. Serkin / Szell
Zimerman / Bernstein
Backhaus / Bohm

5

Cliburn / Reiner
Solomon / Dobrowen
P. Serkin / Shaw
Katchen / Ferencsik
Serkin / Ormandy

5-/4.5+

Arrau / Haitink
Ashkenazy / Haitink
Brendel / Abbado
Weissenberg / Maag
Pollini / Abbado

4/4.5

Watts / Bernstein
Guiterrez / Previn
Ax / Haitink
Gelber / Kempe
Moravec / Belohlavek
Leonskaja / Masur

Please, good people! Some of us can't afford to get every recording on the market!

Couldn't you just pretend that there's nothing interesting out there, and that everything available is simply worthless?

Please?

BachQ · April 11, 2007, 03:17:50 PM

Quote from: MrOsa on April 11, 2007, 03:13:42 PM
Please, good people! Some of us can't afford to get every recording on the market! Couldn't you just pretend that there's nothing interesting out there, and that everything available is simply worthless?

Please?

Hey, that was only a partial list for "phase 1" purchasing . . . . . .

Maciek · April 11, 2007, 03:21:47 PM

LOL!

I'm logging off to stab myself.

George · April 11, 2007, 03:37:36 PM

Quote from: O Mensch on April 11, 2007, 02:56:29 PM
Well, sorry to disappoint you. Richter certainly is one of the greatest pianists (I love his Brahms sonatas on Decca), but here he is paired with one of the stiffest and charmless conductors. It just doesn't make for good Brahms. Sorry.

I have the one Richter preferred, with Maazel. Have you heard that one? $:-\$

MishaK · April 11, 2007, 03:59:12 PM

Quote from: George on April 11, 2007, 03:37:36 PM
I have the one Richter preferred, with Maazel. Have you heard that one? $:-\$

Nope. What orch.?

Bunny · April 11, 2007, 05:12:52 PM

Quote from: MrOsa on April 11, 2007, 03:13:42 PM
Please, good people! Some of us can't afford to get every recording on the market! Couldn't you just pretend that there's nothing interesting out there, and that everything available is simply worthless?

Please?

Two good Brahms recordings that won't bust the budget are the Freire/Chailly concertos that are cheaply available from the BMG music clubs and the Fleisher/Szell which are also available in SACD/hybrid if you decide you do want to bust the budget. If you want pristeen modern sound, go with the Chailly. If you are less fussy about that but want impeccable reference quality performances, go with the Szell.

George · April 11, 2007, 05:30:17 PM

Quote from: O Mensch on April 11, 2007, 03:59:12 PM
Nope. What orch.?

Orchestre de Paris.

val · April 11, 2007, 11:33:45 PM

Regarding the first concerto:

Curzon/Szell
Arrau/Giulini
Backhaus/Böhm
Gilels/Jochum
Brendel/Isserstedt

Regarding the second:

Gilels/Jochum
Richter-Haaser/Karajan
Sviatoslav Richter/Leinsdorf
Backhaus/Böhm
Edwin Fischer/Furtwängler

MishaK · April 12, 2007, 06:36:52 AM

Quote from: George on April 11, 2007, 05:30:17 PM
Orchestre de Paris.

I can't find this. Is this OOP?