Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 - Leon Fleisher, Szell, Cleveland Orchestra

[op.110]

It remains irrefutable that Leon Fleisher's recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto in B-flat major exists as an unparalleled recording of the piece.

However, two questions.
1. Can you think of a recording that competes in terms of articulation, pianicism, and musicianship?

2. Who is the cellist playing the lyrical and beautiful third movement solo of the concerto; is it Lynn Harrell? (i lost my copy of the cd and unfortunately, i only have the mp3s on my ipod  .

[Que]

It remains irrefutable that Leon Fleisher's recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto in B-flat major exists as an unparalleled recording of the piece.

However, two questions.
1. Can you think of a recording that competes in terms of articulation, pianicism, and musicianship?

Have a look at other favourites on these threads: Brahms' Piano Concertos & Brahms Piano Concertos.

2. Who is the cellist playing the lyrical and beautiful third movement solo of the concerto; is it Lynn Harrell? (i lost my copy of the cd and unfortunately, i only have the mp3s on my ipod  .

It is Jules Eskin.

Q

[Holden]

It remains irrefutable that Leon Fleisher's recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto in B-flat major exists as an unparalleled recording of the piece.

However, two questions.
1. Can you think of a recording that competes in terms of articulation, pianicism, and musicianship?

2. Who is the cellist playing the lyrical and beautiful third movement solo of the concerto; is it Lynn Harrell? (i lost my copy of the cd and unfortunately, i only have the mp3s on my ipod  .

Richter/Ormandy...and who says it's irrefutable?

[BachQ]

It remains irrefutable that Leon Fleisher's recording of Brahms' Piano Concerto in B-flat major exists as an unparalleled recording of the piece.

I refute.

See, e.g., Gilels/Jochum; Richter/Maazel.

[MISHUGINA]

OMG, are we talking about Sviatoslav Richter? I only know he recorded the 2nd with Leinsdorf/CSO.

[BachQ]

OMG, are we talking about Sviatoslav Richter? I only know he recorded the 2nd with Leinsdorf/CSO.

And with Maazel ........ to yield a nearly perfect outcome ........

[Holden]

And with Maazel ........ to yield a nearly perfect outcome ........

Is this available anywhere?

[BachQ]

Is this available anywhere?

Yes, my recording is part of this 3-disc boxset:



On this CD:
Piano Concerto No. 1, for piano & orchestra (or 2 pianos) in B flat minor, Op. 23
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
with Emil Grigoryevich Gilels
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Violin Concerto, for violin & orchestra (or violin & piano) in D major, Op. 35
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Frank Peter Zimmermann
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Miroirs, for piano (or orchestra) Alborada del gracioso
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Slavonic Dances for orchestra, B. 83 (Op. 46)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestrated by Maurice Ravel)
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by London Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Pavane pour une infante défunte, for piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Paris Orchestra
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche (Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks), tone poem for orchestra, Op. 28
Composed by Richard Strauss
Performed by London Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel


Boléro, ballet for orchestra (or piano)
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel

[dirkronk]

Richter/Ormandy...and who says it's irrefutable?

Richter/Ormandy? Umm...was this just a slip of the keyboard, Holden, or have you uncovered a performance I've been unaware of (he asks, salivating)?

So far as Richter's performances that I HAVE heard, I'll take the Leinsdorf/CSO any day. Wonderful propulsion and excitement. If only Reiner hadn't been sick that day, it might have been THE performance for the ages. As it is, it's still my most-listened-to version of the Brahms 2nd PC. Even the recording is quite fine...almost great; I say "almost" because there is some sonic shatter at the big orchestral crescendos that's simply there in the master tape. Not enough to knock it off its perch a the top of the pile.

I had the Maazel/Paris for years and may still have the LP stuck away somewhere. As a recording, it's quite good, but I never warmed to the performance--to my ears, Maazel and Richter just didn't seem to have the same approach to the piece (not unlike Richter's attempts at collaborating with Karajan in other concerti, some of which are fine while others are frustratingly unsatisfying). Of course, that's just my opinion. IIRC, Richter himself actually liked his work with Maazel; go figure. Wouldn't be the first time Richter's opinion of his own work and mine diverged. 

As for Richter's version with Mravinsky, let's just say that it's fascinating in its (sometimes weird, often manic) way and I'm glad I have it but it's certainly NOT a mainstream recommendation.

Re performances by other pianists, well, I've posted my lists on past threads.

Cheers,

Dirk

[not edward]

Does anyone have any thoughts on Richter's version with Kondrashin?

I see that it's currently available as a free mp3 download from http://www.sviatoslavrichter.ru/records.php

[dirkronk]

Does anyone have any thoughts on Richter's version with Kondrashin?

Thanks for the link. Lots of nice things to consider downloading from that site. I do have the 1950 Richter/Kondrashin/CzechPO version on an Andromeda 2-CD set, but acquired it only recently and haven't listened to it yet! Otherwise I would have opined...natch.

Cheers,

Dirk

[Holden]

Richter/Ormandy? Umm...was this just a slip of the keyboard, Holden, or have you uncovered a performance I've been unaware of (he asks, salivating)?

Dirk

You can stop drooling Dirk - I did mean Leinsdorf! I think maybe Alzheiner's is setting in early for me.

[MISHUGINA]

How do I save the quicktime mp3s? Just curious.

[PSmith08]

How do I save the quicktime mp3s? Just curious.

Right-click on the link on the main page and select "Save Link As" or whatever the analogous command is. Make sure you remember where you save it, since these are not terribly inventively named files.