Brahms Solo Piano Works

[Que]

But, I really was interested in Brahms's recommends. Someone already said I needed the Katchen set. How bout some cracklin' Brahms in scintillating modern sound? On SONY, or Philips, or....

IMO Katchen is overrated anyway.....

Modern sound... but on a period instrument - (some of) the best Brahms I've heard in many years:

[asin]B016VJM3BM[/asin]
Personally I find it sensational...

Q

[Madiel]

I asked once on the "recordings you are considering" thread about Jonathan Plowright on BIS. I've seen some rather good reviews, but people didn't seem to have heard him?

[Spineur]

[asin]B01NB0AIYF[/asin]

[asin]B071LSSXG7[/asin]

The Nelson Freire is pre order, but I just saw it is already on qobuz.

[Selig]

These Richter recordings are on streaming services now (I think they weren't there before, but maybe my searches were bad)

Very fine versions of Op 118/6 and 119/3

[George]

A ten disc box of all his [Angelich] Brahms recordings is slated for release next month for under $30.

Yes, it is excellent!

[vers la flamme]

Been listening to the Richard Goode recording on Elektra/Nonesuch. Really enjoy it.

These Richter recordings are on streaming services now (I think they weren't there before, but maybe my searches were bad)

Very fine versions of Op 118/6 and 119/3

I like this a lot too. Wish Richter had recorded more Brahms.

[Holden]

I wish Gilels had recorded more Brahms

[vers la flamme]

I wish Gilels had recorded more Brahms

Agreed, the DG 2CD with the concertos and the op.116 Fantasien is absolutely phenomenal.

[Artem]

Walter Klien on VoxBox was recommended to me here earlier and it is really wonderful. The sound quality is not that great, but the playing is so good you don't really pay attention to other things. He plays with Brendel on it too and it's just great.

Yesterday I listen to Wilhelm Kempff on DG. Mid 1960s recording. Good sound, but his playing is very much in Beethoven mode. Way too heroic. I didn't like it that much.

[Jo498]

I haven't heard any of his DG Brahms, but 1960s Kempff might be among the least "heroic" Beethoven playing around...

[Holden]

Agreed, the DG 2CD with the concertos and the op.116 Fantasien is absolutely phenomenal.

YES!!

[SonicMan46]

I asked once on the "recordings you are considering" thread about Jonathan Plowright on BIS. I've seen some rather good reviews, but people didn't seem to have heard him?

Well, response to a post from 2017, but no discussion was generated about Jonathan Plowright - since this thread started (pre-2010), I've 'culled and added' Brahms piano recordings - now own the two below; Plowright as 5 separate CDs (below is his V.3; not sure if BIS has boxed these discs?) - at the moment I'm pleased w/ these selections - but since he has received little discussion excellent reviews are attached (all 5 reviewed in Fanfare, plus selections of the others from different sources, for those interested). Another pianist I considered was Barry Douglas but decided on Plowright.  Dave

Brahms, Johannes - Piano Works w/ Geoffroy Couteau - another new box set recorded quickly (April though August of 2015) and in chronological order - reviews seem non-existent except for comments from the Amazonians.  For myself, enjoying both Couteau and Plowright yesterday - if thinking of replacing one or several of your 'old' sets of these works, these pianists are worth a listen - both are available on Spotify (and I'm sure other online streaming services).  Dave

 

[Spotted Horses]

Anyone have an opinion of the Gerhard Oppitz recordings of the complete piano music? He was a student of Kempff, I understand, so I am somewhat intrigued.

[Jo498]

I heard some of the Oppitz years ago before it was boxed. It's not bad but not comparable with the poetic approach of Kempff, rather more prosaic. Katchen is superior as a complete recording.

Brahms' solo pieces are so different from each other that a complete recording is almost bound to be a mixed bag. There are the early works with romantic enthusiasm but some weaknesses in the early sonatas. Then a bunch of variations of which the Paganinis stick out as an almost Lisztian display of supervirtuosity (it's one of my least favorite Brahms pieces). Then the late pieces, often Brahms at his most pensive, lyrical and introvert and in between the rhapsodies and op.76 the only "middle period" solo piano Brahms.

[amw]

I only have three volumes of the Plowright series but they are consistently excellent. Top tier of complete sets I think, although obviously almost all the "best" Brahms recordings are by individual pianists who didn't record cycles.

[Madiel]

Well there you go, I was still wondering about the Plowright question and now I'm getting responses! 

EDIT: Also, back then I didn't have easy access to streaming... *goes to queue up some Plowright on Primephonic, he should be on there*

[staxomega]

I wish Gilels had recorded more Brahms

Agreed, the DG 2CD with the concertos and the op.116 Fantasien is absolutely phenomenal.

For sure, you had me spending the afternoon listening to a bunch of Gilels playing Brahms.

Op. 116, first piano quartet with Amadeus, horn trio on DG.

Melodiya live recordings from the Anniversary box - Romance in F major, op. 116 fantasies (1965), complete set of ballades (1977), Variations on a Theme for Paganini (1983) and various intermezzi.

A good afternoon and whole heartedly agree that I wish there was more (at the least one recording of op. 5 sonata would have been nice)

[vers la flamme]

For sure, you had me spending the afternoon listening to a bunch of Gilels playing Brahms.

Op. 116, first piano quartet with Amadeus, horn trio on DG.

Melodiya live recordings from the Anniversary box - Romance in F major, op. 116 fantasies (1965), complete set of ballades (1977), Variations on a Theme for Paganini (1983) and various intermezzi.

A good afternoon and whole heartedly agree that I wish there was more (at the least one recording of op. 5 sonata would have been nice)

An afternoon well spent indeed.