Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

[Baron Scarpia]

One that I have which I can't really comment on since I haven't had time to listen to any substantial part of it is Oppitz.

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Just mentioning that it exists.

You didn't ask me, but I would say the most satisfying sets of Schumann Symphonies I have listened to are Bernstein, Wiener Philharmoniker (surprisingly straight and energetic) and Harnoncourt (idiosyncratic, and gorgeous, in my view).

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[amw]

You didn't ask me either but my favourite Schumann set is from Heinz Holliger and the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln.
https://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Complete-Symphonic-Works-Vol/dp/B00ELVVC6U + https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Schumann-Complete-Symphonic-Works/dp/B00KIA1DXA + https://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Complete-Symphonic-Works-Vol/dp/B00MQ8Y4FQ/

As for Brahms piano music, it's not complete and not boxed up in a set, but Hardy Rittner is doing an integral on MDG that is very high quality. Do not know the Oppitz & Barenboim integrals. There is yet another integral from Andreas Boyde, which is also pretty good, on a similar level to Couteau.

Kovacevich, Ax and Angelich have recorded most of Brahms's piano music but I don't know if they did all of it or if it's available anywhere.

[NikF]

You didn't ask me either but my favourite Schumann set is from Heinz Holliger and the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln.
https://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Complete-Symphonic-Works-Vol/dp/B00ELVVC6U + https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Schumann-Complete-Symphonic-Works/dp/B00KIA1DXA + https://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Complete-Symphonic-Works-Vol/dp/B00MQ8Y4FQ/

As for Brahms piano music, it's not complete and not boxed up in a set, but Hardy Rittner is doing an integral on MDG that is very high quality. Do not know the Oppitz & Barenboim integrals. There is yet another integral from Andreas Boyde, which is also pretty good, on a similar level to Couteau.

Kovacevich, Ax and Angelich have recorded most of Brahms's piano music but I don't know if they did all of it or if it's available anywhere.

One that I have which I can't really comment on since I haven't had time to listen to any substantial part of it is Oppitz.

[asin]B0009A1ALO[/asin]

Just mentioning that it exists.

You didn't ask me, but I would say the most satisfying sets of Schumann Symphonies I have listened to are Bernstein, Wiener Philharmoniker (surprisingly straight and energetic) and Harnoncourt (idiosyncratic, and gorgeous, in my view).

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Thank you both. 

[Mandryka]

I only have the 'Works for Solo Piano' box featuring Katchen. I'd like another box to contrast that one. Any suggestions?

Andreas Boyde, it's very lovingly played and he has a modern piano sound that I can tolerate. Though be aware that I only listen to the late music and big sets of variations really - I don't know anything about sonatas, ballades . . .

[amw]

If you want the real nerd bullshit:

Sonata No.1 Op.1 - François-Frédéric Guy
Sonata No.2 Op.2 - Hélène Grimaud (Denon)
Schumann Variations Op.9 - Sheila Arnold
Ballades Op.10 - Nicholas Angelich, Valery Afanassiev (if you're insane)
Handel Variations Op.24 - Jorge Bolet, Claudio Arrau (Ermitage), Benno Moiseiwitsch
Paganini Variations Op.35 - Yuja Wang
7 Fantasien Op.116 - Evgenia Rubinova
3 Intermezzi Op.117 - Andreas Boyde, Arcadi Volodos
6 Klavierstücke Op.118 - Julius Katchen, Arcadi Volodos, Hélène Grimaud (Denon)
4 Klavierstücke Op.119 - Rudolf Firkušny (BBC Legends), Maurizio Pollini

Add/subtract your own favourites/unfavourites or key works

[Jo498]

Of the "incomplete" Brahms piano recordings, I'd recommend Rubinstein for the 3rd sonata, Rhapsodies op.79 and about half or so of opp. 116-119. He also did the Ballades op.10 but it's been too long that I listened to them.

The first two sonatas are rather uneven pieces; there is a very enthusiastic live Richter (who did not play the 3rd!) recording on Decca.

[Mandryka]

If you want the real nerd bullshit:

Sonata No.1 Op.1 - François-Frédéric Guy
Sonata No.2 Op.2 - Hélène Grimaud (Denon)
Schumann Variations Op.9 - Sheila Arnold
Ballades Op.10 - Nicholas Angelich, Valery Afanassiev (if you're insane)
Handel Variations Op.24 - Jorge Bolet, Claudio Arrau (Ermitage), Benno Moiseiwitsch
Paganini Variations Op.35 - Yuja Wang
7 Fantasien Op.116 - Evgenia Rubinova
3 Intermezzi Op.117 - Andreas Boyde, Arcadi Volodos
6 Klavierstücke Op.118 - Julius Katchen, Arcadi Volodos, Hélène Grimaud (Denon)
4 Klavierstücke Op.119 - Rudolf Firkušny (BBC Legends), Maurizio Pollini

Add/subtract your own favourites/unfavourites or key works

yes I think there are some interesting ideas here, Rubinova and Volodos.

[Mandryka]

Of the "incomplete" Brahms piano recordings, I'd recommend Rubinstein for the 3rd sonata, Rhapsodies op.79 and about half or so of opp. 116-119. He also did the Ballades op.10 but it's been too long that I listened to them.

The first two sonatas are rather uneven pieces; there is a very enthusiastic live Richter (who did not play the 3rd!) recording on Decca.

Yes distinctive and noble in the 116-119 -- there's a recording on Vol 10 of the Rubinstein Collection which I like.

[NikF]

I just noticed all these replies and suggestions. Thank you, everyone.


Other Brahms stuff - it's a fair time away, but I've reached the end of the SSO brochure for the coming season and the final concert is Elisabeth Leonskaja playing the Brahms D minor PC. I know her name but have never heard her play anything. I see there's at least one recorded performance of it by her, so I could order the CD and have a listen. Ah, that's me just being a skinflint as usual - I should just buy tickets right now.

[Karl Henning]

Parenthetically . . . possibly the last time I heard Brahms at Symphony Hall, was on the concert when Peter Serkin premièred Wuorinen's Fourth Concerto.  I ran into Charles during the intermission, to congratulate him, and I enjoyed a very pleasant chat with him.  The time nearly got away from us, and the lights dimmed to alert us that the second half was about to begin, and Charles playfully observed, "Now, to give the people the Brahms they came for."

[NikF]

^ good stuff!

[SymphonicAddict]

Happy birthday for one of the greatest composers ever!

Now playing the Violin concerto (Ferras, Karajan, BPO). Possibly my favorite performance.

[Biffo]

After my posting in the Sibelius 4 thread, something more positive.

Mention of Bernstein prompted me to check on his NYPO Brahms cycle. Remastered versions Nos 2, 3 & 4 from Sony Japan are now available from Amazon UK marketplace sellers at a sensible price. Now on order. Remastered release of No 1 has been available for a while and I was prepared to pay a premium price as it is something special.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Just want to say: Happy birthday Johannes !

[vers la flamme]

Bump for a great composer.

Just writing to signify that I've joined the club; after years of being totally mystified and totally bored by his music (outside of the great late piano pieces, which I have long loved)... I'm a "Brahms guy" now. It was Otto Klemperer's cycle of the symphonies with the Philharmonia, along with a few great recordings from Wilhelm Furtwängler, which finally opened my eyes to the music of this famous composer.

Anyway, I can't get enough of it now. My favorites are symphonies 1 and 3, the Piano Quintet in F minor, the aforementioned piano pieces. His chamber music is still largely uncharted territory for me, but I'm entranced by the symphonies at present and will get to the chamber music when I get to it.

Has anyone else been listening to any Brahms lately? I'm excited to have "discovered" this great composer.

[Que]

Bump for a great composer.

Just writing to signify that I've joined the club; after years of being totally mystified and totally bored by his music (outside of the great late piano pieces, which I have long loved)... I'm a "Brahms guy" now. It was Otto Klemperer's cycle of the symphonies with the Philharmonia, along with a few great recordings from Wilhelm Furtwängler, which finally opened my eyes to the music of this famous composer.

Anyway, I can't get enough of it now. My favorites are symphonies 1 and 3, the Piano Quintet in F minor, the aforementioned piano pieces. His chamber music is still largely uncharted territory for me, but I'm entranced by the symphonies at present and will get to the chamber music when I get to it.

Has anyone else been listening to any Brahms lately? I'm excited to have "discovered" this great composer.

His chamber music, do explore that. It doesn't get more echt Brahms than that....
And, if you're to that kind of thing, his Lieder and choral music - Brahms was very knowledgeable on the great examples from the Renaissance & Baroque.

Q

[North Star]

Yes indeed, do get to the rest of the chamber music as soon as possible.

[vers la flamme]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good, cheap box set which includes a big chunk of his chamber music? That might be helpful 

[Jo498]

There was a Brilliant chamber music box that supposedly was pretty good. Not sure if it is still easily available (I can vouch for the trios and the clarinet pieces in that box) There is also one on Hyperion, probably not quite as cheap.

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This one with Rubinstein is cheap and very good but you get only about half of the chamber music; no strings only, no horn trio and no clarinet works
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[Madiel]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good, cheap box set which includes a big chunk of his chamber music? That might be helpful 

Hyperion boxed them all together and there are lots of good performances in there.