Brahms' Piano Concertos

[tompilk]

Hi,
I recently came across Hamelin's new recording of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 and was amazed by the performance. I really love it! However, I had previously (months ago) listened to Hough's performances of both concertos and discarded it after 2-3 hrs, and I've thought for months that I found these pieces boring! I found it boring even when i kept listening!
How do I love one recording yet get bored by another so badly i see it as a waste of time to listen to?
Also, I have had the general feel that people prefer the first concerto, is this true? What is the general opinion on these pieces, from the public? (i.e. Rachmaninov 2 is more popular than 1 &4 etc.). I find the first concerto boring, however maybe i'll enjoy it lots if i find a good performance!
I am somewhat confused by this!
Tom

[Waldszenen]

Simple truth - both of his concerti, whether you regard them as boring or magnificent, are two of Brahms' greatest compositions.

Whether you regard a piece as "boring" or not shouldn't depend on the performance, because that means you're judging the interpretation and not the music.

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

Music does grow on me, so whatever I find "boring" then isn't "boring" now. "Boring" is of course in quotations to undeline it's relativety.

I think that an individual performance does indeed play a role. Not too long ago I completed a "short" Bach piece. I could just play the notes without any consideration of the music, but was amazed at how the piece sounded when I "assigned" certain musical elements such as an imitation of certain orchestral instruments, individual voices, key changes, motifes, mordents, trills, character, etc.

Best.

[presto agitato]

Beethoven´s num 4 in G major and Brahm´s Num 1 in D minor are the best ´piano concertos ever composed. Get the recording by Gilels.

[Kassaa]

Beethoven´s num 4 in G major and Brahm´s Num 2 in Bb major are the best ´piano concertos ever composed. Get the recording by Gilels.

fixed.

[jre58591]

haha you people generalize too much.

[apion]

Forget the Hough recording.  For Brahms 2, listen to Gilels, Fleischer or Richter.  For Brahms 1, go for Curzon/Szell; Serkin/Szell; Fleischer/Szell; Cliburn/Leinsdorf; Bishop/Sawallisch.

Brahms 2 is widely regarded by professional pianists as the greatest piano concerto ever written, and it is fiendishly difficult.  Personally, I think Brahms #1 is greater, but I realize that I'm in the minority.

These concerti are NOT boring -- in fact, they're the exact opposite of that: they are ON FIRE and highly engrossing.

Beethoven´s num 4 in G major and Brahm´s Num 1 in D minor are the best ´piano concertos ever composed. Get the recording by Gilels.

I agree

[kempff1234]

Forget Hough. My fav brahms 2 recording is Edwin Fischer with Furtwangler. Also Arrau is quite good as well.

[Waldszenen]

rahms 2 is widely regarded by professional pianists as the greatest piano concerto ever written, and it is fiendishly difficult.

More difficult than the Rach 3 according to some.

[avetma]

My favourite Rach concertos are 3 > 1 > 4 / 2. And I can't stand any recording except Hough. Including Hamelin and other 'great' names.

[apion]

And I can't stand any recording except Hough. Including Hamelin and other 'great' names.

Lost cause

[avetma]

Lost cause

Why's that?

[dnephi]

I've heard three Rach 1 and the best was Zimerman.  I prefer Zimerman's Rachmaninoff 2 to the Gilels, and I prefer Rachmaninoff and Volodos, as different perspectives on the Rachmaninoff 3.  I really just don't like the fourth.

[letters]

i really like barenboims brahms concertos. I was never that fussed about the first one until i watched a performance of it on telly in the leeds piano competition -- i think he went on to win?? Then it was really exciting. Theyre just quite intense and long so you do have to concentrate!

[Waldszenen]

Lost cause

LOL, or just plain confused.

[iumonito]

I'll take you Hough discarded CDs, btw.  I like them.

[pianistimo]

apion,  of the choices you mentioned - which one is your favorite?  without having heard them all - i'm thinking that mine would be serkin/szell.  i heard that szell was quite a perfectionist with the cleveland orchestra and nothing could get by him.  although, now that i've had time to reflect on brahms a bit more - i think barry douglas could do a good job by him.

did anyone hear andre watts recent performance?  i think christoph eschenbach conducted here at the kimmel center in philly.

[apion]

apion,  of the choices you mentioned - which one is your favorite?  without having heard them all - i'm thinking that mine would be serkin/szell. 

Overall, I like the Curzon/Szell and Serkin/Szell the best.

Curzon/Szell captures the concerto's drama and power the best; Serkin/Szell is the most "balanced" version (intellectual vs. emotional).  Both are stunningly perfect. 

now that i've had time to reflect on brahms a bit more - i think barry douglas could do a good job by him.

Barry Douglas (with Stanislaw Skrowaczewski & LSO) is very good.  Better than the recent release by Zimerman/Rattle (DG).