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best brahms recordings (Read 2418 times)

Offline earthward

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best brahms recordings
« on: August 06, 2006, 02:03:36 AM »
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?
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Sheet music to download and print: Six Pieces by Brahms


Offline burstroman

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #1 on: August 06, 2006, 02:25:12 AM »
Richter is great! My favorite pianist is Radu Lupu!
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Offline bananafish

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #2 on: August 06, 2006, 02:39:07 AM »
I second Radu Lupu. His Brahms records are simply incredible (so are his Schubert CDs).
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Offline brewtality

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #3 on: August 06, 2006, 03:00:56 AM »
Sergio Fiorentino
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Offline mikey6

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #4 on: August 06, 2006, 04:11:54 AM »
Katchen might be the obvious answer.
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Offline faulty_damper

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #5 on: August 07, 2006, 05:42:59 AM »
I disagree with Lupu.  In general, he plays undertempo which drags.  But this isn't very noticeable because most people play at those tempi. :P  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.
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Offline kreso

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #6 on: August 07, 2006, 02:10:03 PM »
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...
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Offline stormx

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #7 on: August 07, 2006, 07:25:28 PM »
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.
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Offline mikey6

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #8 on: August 08, 2006, 12:12:24 AM »
Quote from: kreso on August 07, 2006, 02:10:03 PM
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...
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Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them.
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Offline iumonito

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #9 on: August 08, 2006, 05:26:22 AM »
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.
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Offline mephisto

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #10 on: August 08, 2006, 08:31:04 AM »
Rubinstein

Backahus

Katchen

Petri

Richter

Gilels
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Offline sharon_f

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #11 on: August 08, 2006, 11:00:57 PM »
Another vote for Lupu.
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Offline earthward

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #12 on: August 10, 2006, 12:12:36 AM »
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!!

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Offline anschlag

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #13 on: August 17, 2006, 01:35:16 PM »
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!
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Offline cloches_de_geneve

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #14 on: August 18, 2006, 06:30:30 PM »
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.
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Offline burstroman

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Re: best brahms recordings
«Reply #15 on: August 19, 2006, 03:35:07 AM »
Kempff has one of the most beautiful touches of all time.  I love his trills.
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