best brahms recordings

[earthward]

I'm looking for a good interpretation of Brahms Op. 118. I have one by Idel Biret but i'm not satisfied with it.  Any suggestions?

[burstroman]

Richter is great! My favorite pianist is Radu Lupu!

[bananafish]

I second Radu Lupu. His Brahms records are simply incredible (so are his Schubert CDs).

[brewtality]

Sergio Fiorentino

[mikey6]

Katchen might be the obvious answer.

[faulty_damper]

I disagree with Lupu.  In general, he plays undertempo which drags.  But this isn't very noticeable because most people play at those tempi.   And he is conservative with expresssion.

But I don't have an alternative recommendation.  I originally purchased his CD because of recommendations but I was disappointed when I heard it.

[kreso]

I like very much Radu Lupu and Dmitri Alexeiev! Also Lang Lang played op.118 on his first debut recital for Telarc but this performance lives me cold... for op.118/2 I recomend Ivo Pogorelich-he plays in not as Brahms wanted, but as he is composer (Brahms) and op.1118/2 is his own composition-very interesting...

[stormx]

I own a CD called "My favorite Brahms" by Van Cliburn, and it sounds pretty nice. Not all, but some of the Op. 118 pieces are there.

[mikey6]

I like very much Radu Lupu and Dmitri Alexeiev!

I went and heard Alexeev last week and I gots to say, whilst he had a big sound, he did (or could) not play quiet and his cantabile sound was gross!  Maybe his studio recordings are better, I dunno...

[iumonito]

I have the Lupu recording and find it wanting.  I like better the Grimiaux recording, but it is still young.

Fiorentino and Schiff are the next two I want to listen to.

[mephisto]

Rubinstein

Backahus

Katchen

Petri

Richter

Gilels

[sharon_f]

Another vote for Lupu.

[earthward]

Wow there doesn't seem to be a consensus on that one. I guess I'll have to strike out on a limb. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!!

[anschlag]

I love late Brahms...

My favourite would probably be Lupu by a whisker - he is a little slow in some of the pieces but he places so beautifully. The bass on the Decca/London recording I find a bit thick.

 Also Kovacevich - he is stormier and more intense. He is on Philips - on a two disc DUO set of Brahms piano with some less compelling pianists or better still a four disc set with Kovacevich's complete Brahms for Philips. Again the recording is not perfect and the piano sounds a bit clangy in some of the pieces.

Katchen too.


Can anyone comment on the Ax, Vogt, Vladar or the new Leonskaja recordings of the late pieces?  I'de be interested in views. Thanks!

[cloches_de_geneve]

Wilhelm Kempff is unsurpassed for 116, 117, 118, 119. Listen to him and you'll discover a new dimension of piano playing. I am serious.

[burstroman]

Kempff has one of the most beautiful touches of all time.  I love his trills.