Brahms Solo Piano Works

[Drasko]

What specific recordings do you have that you enjoy?  Thanks!

In Sonata op.5 I like Kocsis (also Rubinstein '59, Sokolov, Freire), Ballades op. 10 Michelangeli (either DG or live), Paganini Variations also Michelangeli (from Warsaw), for middle and late pieces first of all I like Rubinstein, he didn't record all, and recorded some more than once, and it's scattered all over Rubinstein Collection - vols. 10, 21, 64 would cover most ground, those would be '41 and '53 recordings. Yudina is superb (the disc with Beethoven's op.106), op.119/3 excepted - way to severe for its own good. Richter's few encore pieces from Leipzig are simply amazing - 118/6 is some of the finest piano playing I ever heard. Also like Pogorelich DG disc when I'm in the mood. Bashkirov recorded some excellent Brahms: 2nd Sonata, my asolutely favorite reading of Capriccio op.76/2, and 118/6 Intermezzo even if not match for Richter then more than fine. For complete 117-119 set Lupu is my first choice.

Bashkirov's Capriccio op.76/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdBA1Durhuc
   

[mjwal]

With reference to Richter's late Brahms, Drasko - I don't know the Leipzig recordings, but the 3 Op.118 he recorded in Salzburg in '72: 1, 3 and 6 are stunning (Melodiya-BMG). I took an anthology (a CD I put together) of late Brahms with Lupu, Kempff etc to Berlin last winter - but forgot this, which blows them all away. Each of the three seems to contain a world, landscape vistas, social gatherings, lonely anguish...Lupu makes a very introverted and impressionistic effect by comparison, lovely but one to doze along to. I regret not knowing the Judina - I have her Hammerklaviersonate on LP, which doesn't include them, but will keep a look out, as she is one of the great originals of the last century, fascinating even when she is infuriating.
Like Mandryka, I cannot get very excited about what he calls "early Brahms" - anything before Op.15 for me. I cannot resonate with his preference of the Paganini Variations to anything else by Brahms, though, certainly not when I hear those Richter Op.118. I've just put on Richter's own recording (Takasaki, '86) of Op.35, which feels just a tad uncertain at the beginning and then settles down to a brilliant and multifarious display - but I miss those vistas and the pain, even if the rococo dolls number (as in Op.24) is to die for. This is followed on the Doremi CD by 4 pieces from Op.116 (Cesena '92); I think they, with the three pieces from 118 (two or more versions?) and the E-flat Rhapsody from Op.119 (of which I have 2 versions), are all we've got of his late Brahms piano works. Somebody please tell me if there's any more!

[Drasko]

With reference to Richter's late Brahms, Drasko - I don't know the Leipzig recordings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crrxk6ptsFc

[mjwal]

Thanks - lovely, though I prefer the Salzburg recording by a fine hair or two. Pity there isn't a link to the Judina on line.

[Mandryka]

Pity there isn't a link to the Judina on line.

Here -- brace yourself, this is no ordinary performance

http://www.goear.com/files/external.swf?file=06e7ef7

[George]

Thanks - lovely, though I prefer the Salzburg recording by a fine hair or two. Pity there isn't a link to the Judina on line.

I assume you mean Yudina?

[Mandryka]

I assume you mean Yudina?

Well Yudina was jewish. 

[George]

 

[mjwal]

George:
I assume you mean Yudina?

Well Yudina was Jewish. 

Sorry about that - I have had flak for writing Schönberg in some online discussion, too; I am not German but bought a lot of my records there. In German the "Y" sound is a "J", so her name is transliterated Judina, and as Mandryka almost points out, her name was of course derived from the German for Jew anyway (a Jewess is "Jüdin" in German).
Thanks for the wonderful Yudina Brahms Op.118/6, Mandryka: this is the the bare forked animal, indeed, with the use of those clipped notes at the beginning ratcheting up the tension and apprehensiveness, worlds away from Lupu, no consoling nostalgia here - it's almost "Bong!Mister - Bong! Mister - Bong! Mister - Bong!". Like Richter's version, it is a whole world she shows us, not a candle-lit cottage with autumnal reverie. My whole conception of Brahms has begun to suffer a sea-change, partly as a result of the discussion here (I have begun to view the songs differently, too - but that demands a separate thread.)

[Philoctetes]

I have a dissuggestion.



I've not explored the works enough to give a truly good suggestion, but I can say that the above set sounded just like a lot of banging, and it wasn't very enjoyable to my ears at all.

[Harry]

I have a dissuggestion.



I've not explored the works enough to give a truly good suggestion, but I can say that the above set sounded just like a lot of banging, and it wasn't very enjoyable to my ears at all.

[ccar]

Like Mandryka, I cannot get very excited about what he calls "early Brahms" - anything before Op.15 for me. ... / ...

I also do love the late Brahms piano. Beautiful small gems, so different from Brahms large symphonic first sonatas. And I also confess I may not always be drawn into the more virtuosistic side of the Variations. But some of the early Brahms pieces can also be very poetic and rewarding. I would remind, and recommend, Sokolov renditions of the F minor Sonata (Op.5) and the Ballades Op.10 (1992-93, Opus 111). 

... / ... I've just put on Richter's own recording (Takasaki, '86) of Op.35, which feels just a tad uncertain at the beginning and then settles down to a brilliant and multifarious display - but I miss those vistas and the pain, even if the rococo dolls number (as in Op.24) is to die for. This is followed on the Doremi CD by 4 pieces from Op.116 (Cesena '92); I think they, with the three pieces from 118 (two or more versions?) and the E-flat Rhapsody from Op.119 (of which I have 2 versions), are all we've got of his late Brahms piano works. Somebody please tell me if there's any more!

AFAIK, these are Richter's recordings of Brahms piano solo issued in CD :
       

Sonata No.1 Op.1 – 1986, Mantua - DECCA; 1988, Tours - PHILIPS; 1988, Hasselburg - RCA; 1988, Prague - PRAGA

Sonata No.2 Op.2 – 1984, Pizen - PRAGA; 1986, Mantua – DECCA; 1988, Tours – PHILIPS

Ballades Op. 10 No.1, 2 – 1965, New York - DOREMI; 1992, Kempten - LIVE CLASSICS

Variations on a Hungarian Song Op.21 No.2 – 1984, Prague - PRAGA

Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel Op.24 – 1988, Krasnojarsk - DOREMI

Variations on a Theme by Paganini Op.35 – 1986, Takasaki – DOREMI; 1988, Tours - PHILIPS

Capriccio Op.76 No. 8 – 1966, Locarno – PHILIPS

Rhapsody Op.79 No.2 – 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, New York - ASDISC

Capriccio Op.116 No. 3, 7 – 1964, Moscow CDVE; 1992, Cesena - DOREMI

Intermezzo Op.116 No. 5 – 1964, Moscow CDVE; 1966, Locarno PHILIPS; 1992, Cesena - DOREMI; 1992, Kempten - LIVE CLASSICS

Intermezzo Op.116 No.6 – 1964, Moscow CDVE; 1992, Cesena - DOREMI; 1992, Kempten - LIVE CLASSICS

Intermezzo Op.118 No.1 – 1954, Budapest - BMC; 1965, New York - DOREMI; 1971, Salzburg - MELODIYA/JVC

Ballade Op.118 No.3 – 1963, Leipzig - MUSIC & ARTS; 1965, New York - DOREMI;   
1966, Locarno PHILIPS; 1971, Salzburg - MELODIYA/JVC

Intermezzo Op.118 No.6 – 1954, Budapest - BMC; 1963, Leipzig - MUSIC & ARTS; 1965, New York – DOREMI;   
1971, Salzburg - MELODIYA/JVC

Intermezzi Op.119 No.1, 2 – 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, Kiev TNC; 1992, Kempten - LIVE CLASSICS

Intermezzo Op.119 No.3 – 1963, Leipzig - MUSIC & ARTS; 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, Kiev - TNC

Rhapsody Op.119 No.4 – 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, Kiev - TNC; 1966, Locarno -PHILIPS

[mjwal]

Thanks for the list - as I don't go for those sonatas much, I only lack recordings of op.119/1-3 by him. I'll keep a look-out.

[George]

AFAIK, these are Richter's currently issued CD recordings of Brahms piano solo:
       
Rhapsody Op.79 No.2 – 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, New York - ASDISC

Intermezzi Op.119 No.1, 2 – 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, Kiev TNC; 1992, Kempten - LIVE CLASSICS

Intermezzo Op.119 No.3 – 1963, Leipzig - MUSIC & ARTS; 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, Kiev - TNC

Rhapsody Op.119 No.4 – 1965, Bergamo – EMI; 1965, Kiev - TNC; 1966, Locarno -PHILIPS

Wow, I have "The Complete EMI Recordings Box" by Richter and it doesn't have any of these 1965 Bergamo recordings. 

From Trovar:

[ labelled 13 April 1965, possibly Bergamo 27 March 1965 ]
EMI Italy 093 2538192 (CD) [ only available to customers of the Italian bank "CAB" ]

Anyone actually have that CD?

[Scarpia]

Recently listened to the Rhapsodies, Op 79, in a recording by Martha Argerich, her first release on DG, recorded in 1961 (when she was 20).  Wonderful music, and striking performances (although I don't have much basis for comparison) with fierce and gentle moments both handled with grace.  These recordings are included in the "Argerich Collection 1" (solo piano recordings).  Collection 2 (concerti) is also available with collection 3 (chamber music) soon to appear.

[ccar]

Wow, I have "The Complete EMI Recordings Box" by Richter and it doesn't have any of these 1965 Bergamo recordings. 

From Trovar:

[ labelled 13 April 1965, possibly Bergamo 27 March 1965 ]
EMI Italy 093 2538192 (CD) [ only available to customers of the Italian bank "CAB" ]

Anyone actually have that CD?

Unfortunately I don't. I have all the others in the Brahms piano solo list but this was indeed a limited EMI Italy edition, and obviously a very difficult one to get. But I'm sure Paul Gefen or Ates Tatin must have it.

[George]

Unfortunately I don't. I have all the others in the Brahms piano solo list but this was indeed a limited EMI Italy edition, and obviously a very difficult one to get. But I'm sure Paul Gefen or Ates Tatin must have it.

Oh, thanks. Hopefully they are very similar to the ones in the Kiev set, with the exception of the Op. 79, No. 2 Rhapsody, which is not in the Keiv. They are from the same year.

[anasazi]

The single recording that first got me involved with Brahms Op. 117, 118 and 119 was the old Columbia LP with Gould.  It is very difficult to locate on CD.  Gould was, well, very un-Gouldian with his Brahms.  But his recordings, esp. Op. 118 #1 and #2 are what I still keep in my mind when I sometimes feebly attempt to play these pieces myself.  Thank you Mr. Gould for opening my mind.

[kishnevi]

The single recording that first got me involved with Brahms Op. 117, 118 and 119 was the old Columbia LP with Gould.  It is very difficult to locate on CD.  Gould was, well, very un-Gouldian with his Brahms.  But his recordings, esp. Op. 118 #1 and #2 are what I still keep in my mind when I sometimes feebly attempt to play these pieces myself.  Thank you Mr. Gould for opening my mind.

And that's not the only re-issue of those recordings listed on Amazon (search "Glenn Gould Brahms")

I suspect Columbia/Sony have reissued every Gould recording they can get their hands on at least two or three times.

[George]

And that's not the only re-issue of those recordings listed on Amazon (search "Glenn Gould Brahms")

I suspect Columbia/Sony have reissued every Gould recording they can get their hands on at least two or three times.

The best sounding version I have heard (I've only compared the recent remaster and the one you posted) is the one pictured above. Great performances, for sure.