Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1

[Steve]

My, what timing! Just as I was writing my post, you beat me to the punch with this good news. I shall order it immediatley. Thanks!

[George]

My, that's quite the bargain! Unfortunately I reside in the Midwest (Chicago). Amazon, appears to be charging a great deal more. (nearly 18) Here's the link http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-Piano-Concerto-Haendel-Variations/dp/B0000AH3ES/ref=sr_1_8/102-6618544-5549713?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176948883&sr=8-8

Does this retailer have an online store?

Yes, see above. 

[George]

My, what timing! Just as I was writing my post, you beat me to the punch with this good news. I shall order it immediatley. Thanks!

My pleasure. You may wish to shop around there for awhile, they have lots of Rubinstein discs new for $7.99 and other Sony CD's by Horowitz, Gould, etc for $6.99.

[BachQ]

You've mentioned three Szelll recordings. Which of three would earn your highest reccomendation? I figured I might as well check out one of the Szell and the Jochum. Any futher details on these?

Serkin/Szell is an absolute MUST OWN.  If you're limited to one, grab that.  However, ultimately, you'll also want the others I've mentioned.  

[BachQ]

If you want a great recent release (2006), consider Zimerman/Rattle.  It's not the greatest, but it's well worth the $14 pricetag.

There's also a visually/acoustically stunning DVD with Barenboim/Rattle, but unfortunately Barenboim botches the trills in the first movement  . . . . . . but I still cherish the DVD . . . . . . 

[Steve]

Thanks for the advice. As soon as George directed me to an online retailer with the Szell/Serkin at price of 6.99, I eagerly added it to my cart. I will also be purchasing the Jochum soon, and will try and compare the two when they arrive. This has long been a favourite of mine, and I was pleased to see the praise it received on another thread. The wonderful piano/orchestra interplay is simply sublime.

One of my reasons for searching outside of my Arrau (Phillips) recording, is a need for a great pulsating energy that I have long felt was missing from the work. I have never gone (well only a few times), with Szell, and I was only willing to pick it up.

How his Szell with other elements of Brahms' Oeuvre?

Much appreciated. 

[Harry]

Interesting to read critic like this against Brahms, one of the most respected composers.

O, my friend, I was not the first to do that. even in his own time fellow composers said the same thing, and last year I spoke with a German conductor, doing exactly the piece I am not wild about, and told him what I felt. After some thinking he agreed with my assesment, but liked the concert nevertheless.

[Bunny]

If you want a great recent release (2006), consider Zimerman/Rattle.  It's not the greatest, but it's well worth the $14 pricetag.

There's also a visually/acoustically stunning DVD with Barenboim/Rattle, but unfortunately Barenboim botches the trills in the first movement  . . . . . . but I still cherish the DVD . . . . . . 

Why bother with the Rattle/Zimerman recording of only the first concerto (which is indifferent at best) when you can get both concertos as inexpensively by Nelson Freire and Riccardo Chailly?  That set of both concertos with the Leipzig GO is also much better.

[val]

The version of Curzon and Szell wit the LSO has a perfect articulation, and Szell gives a great tension and dynamic. Curzon is very pure and quiet in the 2nd movement.

The version of Backhaus and Böhm with the VPO is similar, but less dramatic. The best moment is the central movement.

Arrau and Giulini are very powerful. It is fascinating, in special in the first two movements, but Arrau never shows the touching and simple emotion of Curzon. This version has also a fascinating dark color, but, sometimes, seems too massive.

These are my three favorites.

[71 dB]

O, my friend, I was not the first to do that. even in his own time fellow composers said the same thing, and last year I spoke with a German conductor, doing exactly the piece I am not wild about, and told him what I felt. After some thinking he agreed with my assesment, but liked the concert nevertheless.

Well, if this is a "general opinion" about his piano concertos can we still consider Brahms one of the greatest romantic composers?

[Harry]

Well, if this is a "general opinion" about his piano concertos can we still consider Brahms one of the greatest romantic composers?

Not a general opinion, but it is often enough heard. He is a romantic composer, but I would refrain from the term Greatest, as with all other composers. 

[71 dB]

Not a general opinion, but it is often enough heard. He is a romantic composer, but I would refrain from the term Greatest, as with all other composers. 

Yeah... 

[George]

Not a general opinion, but it is often enough heard. He is a romantic composer, but I would refrain from the term Greatest, as with all other composers. 

Unless we are speaking of Elgar of course.     

[71 dB]

Unless we are speaking of Elgar of course.     

Well, Elgar is the greatest for me. I don't expect others to call him the greatest but I'd say he does not enjoy the amount of admiration he deserves. Too few people have him in their top 20. My message to non-Elgarians is that he is not a boring composer of pompous Edwardian marches but an extremely versatile and interesting composer of music with both simple and complex layers and utmost sophistication. Geniuses are easily misunderstood, unfortunately.

[George]

Well, Elgar is the greatest for me. I don't expect others to call him the greatest but I'd say he does not enjoy the amount of admiration he deserves. Too few people have him in their top 20. My message to non-Elgarians is that he is not a boring composer of pompous Edwardian marches but an extremely versatile and interesting composer of music with both simple and complex layers and utmost sophistication. Geniuses are easily misunderstood, unfortunately.

Hey, I was totally kidding. You converted me to Elgar last year, remember? I listened to the symphonies a number of times in a short span and began to glimpse the quality of his music. The Cello Concerto grabbed me from the opening measures. BTW, have you started a thread for him yet?

[Harry]

Well, Elgar is the greatest for me. I don't expect others to call him the greatest but I'd say he does not enjoy the amount of admiration he deserves. Too few people have him in their top 20. My message to non-Elgarians is that he is not a boring composer of pompous Edwardian marches but an extremely versatile and interesting composer of music with both simple and complex layers and utmost sophistication. Geniuses are easily misunderstood, unfortunately.

My dear friend, let me assure you, that I have almost all of Elgar's works, not he vocal ones, and I think him a very good and well balanced composer.
When I first heard his Symphonies under the baton of late Georg Solti, I could not stop playing him, and that really goes for all his works. I have him in high esteem, and I also think he is underrated, but at least not by me!

[71 dB]

Hey, I was totally kidding. You converted me to Elgar last year, remember? I listened to the symphonies a number of times in a short span and began to glimpse the quality of his music. The Cello Concerto grabbed me from the opening measures. BTW, have you started a thread for him yet?

Of course I know you were joking George and I am very happy I could help you enjoy Elgar. 

I just took the opportunity to tell what I am trying to do.

My dear friend, let me assure you, that I have almost all of Elgar's works, not he vocal ones, and I think him a very good and well balanced composer.
When I first heard his Symphonies under the baton of late Georg Solti, I could not stop playing him, and that really goes for all his works. I have him in high esteem, and I also think he is underrated, but at least not by me!

Harry, you are very open-minded person! You definitely are not a "Elgar problem" except I hope you liked romantic vocal music too as a significant part of Elgar's greatness lies in his oratorios. But, you enjoy his non-vocal music and that's great!

[Poetdante]

Curzon/Szell: My favorite!



Pollini/Abbado: It is not the best, but it is worth listening. Especially Berlin Philarmonic's delicate harmony is very beautiful.

[karlhenning]

Not a general opinion, but it is often enough heard. He is a romantic composer, but I would refrain from the term Greatest, as with all other composers. 

But, Harry, what he said was one of the greatest . . . .

[Haffner]

Isn't it wonderful how two people can have absolutely opposite opinions about the same composition. . . . . .

Brahms' marriage of piano + orchestra is one of the most glorious experiences in music . . . . . . I would cross a desert for just one more piano concerto by Brahms . . . . . .

Moi aussi! Whenever I hear people talk about how "Brahms is too light and pretty", I break out the PC #1. Although it certainly has very beautiful moments, the overall impact of this piece is astounding. Angst, pathos, THUNDER...all in the 1st movement alone!