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Musical Discussions
Topic: Brahms PC2s

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Posted by Paul S on 12-22-2007

RCA LSC-2581, 1962

Here is a worthy performance and a nice stereo recording of a wonderful peice of music.

Very rich orchestral sound is so appropriate for this music.  Reiner, Van Cliburn and CSO at their respective bests.

Mature playing on everyone's part lets the music work its magic.

I haven't listened to this for some time (too long!).  The last time I tried it my cartridge wouldn't track it well, and I was pressed for time so I let it slide.  This time I made the effort to dial in the arm/cartridge and I reaped a big reward.

I wound up listening to the 4th movement 3X, and the music is still in my head.

I love this piece.  I set the album in front of the record shelves.

Paul S


Posted by JANDL100 on 12-23-2007
I've not heard Cliburn's recording - I will look out for it.

I think my favorite is by Gyorgy Sandor. The playing of the Baden Baden orchestra under Rolf Reinhardt is frankly 3rd rate, but Sandor is simply fantastic - there's a fluid inevitability about his playing that raises hairs on the back of my neck and brings a huge, ecstatic grin to my face!   Also in my collection, Richter / Leinsdorf / Chicago is quite jaw-droppingly stunning, surely Richter at the peak of his form (happily paired on my CD with a totally awesome Richter Beethoven Apassionata sonata).

I've had other recordings by Barenboim, Kuerti, Bishop-Kovacevich, Rubinstein but they don't really compete imo.

..... & my CD player manages to track them just fine   ;0)

Rgds, Jerry

Posted by Romy the Cat on 06-01-2008

A couple hours ago WGBH in their “BSO on Record” program span a recording of Brahms’ Piano Concerto B-flat that was made in Boston in November 95:

http://www.wgbh.org/playlists/playlist?program_id=3368365&episode_id=3981909&airing_id=3845593&playlist_id=3845596

What an unusual recording - and I never ever heard it! It has some “issuers” in piano play that I would not absolutely agree but still in some spots the concerto sounds like incredibly good performance. It is commentary available and if you like the B-flat PC then you might be an interested to hear it…

The Cat

Posted by Paul S on 06-29-2008
I would be very interested to know what Richter said about this in his diary.  Apparently, this was Richter's 1st American recording, and all did not go well, at all.  For instance, from a long list of unlikely "catastrophies", Leinsdorf was a last-minute stand-in for Fritz Reiner.

None the less:  This is a Majesterial reading that very much enhances my ever-growing appreciation of this amazing composition.  Direction, orchestra and Richter are all brilliant.  The 3rd movement starts out with a bit of a wobble, but the 1st chairs all hang tough and the ensemble comes right around, soon enough.

Just Brilliant.

Paul S

Posted by Romy the Cat on 07-13-2008

 Paul S wrote:
I would be very interested to know what Richter said about this in his diary.  Apparently, this was Richter's 1st American recording, and all did not go well, at all.  For instance, from a long list of unlikely "catastrophies", Leinsdorf was a last-minute stand-in for Fritz Reiner…

I do not remember what Richter said about it. He started his diaries in 1970, ten year after his first US’s visit. In his memories he writes about that US trip and about his play in Carnegie Hall but not about the Brahms Concerto. BTW, I do not know if it is translated (I have them in Russian) but if it is available in English and if you a Richter’s admirer (I am not) then defiantly get the book – it is VERY interesting reading.

The Cat

Posted by Romy the Cat on 08-27-2009
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Here is an interesting recording that I played today. Live Performances from December 1943 by Adrian Aeschbacher with Furtwangler and Berlin. The sound of the LYS label is beyond expectation, as usually. The performance is different: the same Furtwangler and the same BFO but Edwin Fischer (a year early) vs. Adrian Aeschbacher.  Fischer plays perhaps a bit fluent Brahms but take a look what kind firework of piano itself  Aeschbacher show off. The piano is always is flooding in a separate dimension, and what a piano! The sound of THAT instilment is truly wonderful! The intensity of the play and  the rest is what might be expected from the artists of the caliber…

More about the Sound.People complain that I treat like shit the majority of the music professionals who responsible for barbaric sound mastering. Well, perhaps I have a reason to treat idiots deservingly. Here is the case to point – you never hear me say any single bad word about LYS. I just very abidingly and in COMPLETE SILENCE bough any single LYS disk I ever came across. So, perhaps when I refer to Morons as they are Morons then it is not only my attitude to blame.

The Cat

Posted by Romy the Cat on 10-23-2011
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BSO played last night all Brahms program with Second Concerto:

http://classical-scene.com/2011/10/22/9457/

If someone would like I might upload a fragment.

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