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).

[redone198]

You can try Stephen Kovacevich's Brahms Concerto as well, if you want to understand the piece from different perspectives.

[scottmcc]

at the original poster:  have you read the liner notes to the Brahms 2nd concerto?  Apparently the sonata was a bit of a love letter from Mr Brahms to Mrs Clara Schumann, much to the consternation of her husband.  Apparently they never really had an affair, just much steamy talk and writing of difficult music.  Who says the romantic era was boring?  Incidentally, Robert Schumann intedended to dedicate his romances op 28 to some other girl (not Clara), so he's clearly not without fault in the salaciousness (in the end they were published without a dedication).

While I like both concerti, I prefer the 2nd, and I agree with what others have said--it's a fiery beast!

[camstrings]

Regarding the 1st concerto, Brahms arranged it for single piano, 4 hands.
There is a great version recorded by Stefania Redaelli & Sergio Lettes on the Warner label. See what you think! 

[philb]

I really just don't like the fourth.

What?!?!? 

[orangesodaking]

They are the best piano concertos ever!!! I play the first concerto, and it's my all-time favorite piece of music.

John Ogdon owns the 1st concerto, and Alicia de Larrocha owns the 2nd. Forget Gilels and Richter and Serkin.

[montygolfear]

They are the best piano concertos ever!!! I play the first concerto, and it's my all-time favorite piece of music.

John Ogdon owns the 1st concerto, and Alicia de Larrocha owns the 2nd. Forget Gilels and Richter and Serkin.

John Ogdon ?....when was that recorded and with who ?.
Gilles in 1&2 is my favourite set.
If recording quality isn't an issue then Serkin and Szell also do it for me.
Has anyone tried the Bruno Leonardo Gelber versions on EMI?.
Also for some reason Clifford Curzon and Szell seem to be highly rated too.

MG

[orangesodaking]

montygolfear, I don't remember exactly, but it's on my YouTube page in its entirety.

I've heard all of those recordings, they are also fantastic, but Ogdon personally does something deeper for me. Same with de Larrocha in the 2nd (also on YouTube). I HIGHLY recommend hearing de Larrocha in the second concerto, especially the first movement!!!

[perfect_pitch]

John Ogdon owns the 1st concerto, and Alicia de Larrocha owns the 2nd. Forget Gilels and Richter and Serkin.

Sorry - I'd challenge you on that. Stephen Kovacevich owns the 1st Piano concerto and Maurizio Pollini owns the 2nd.

[orangesodaking]

^ ^

Well, as long as we agree that those concertos are super-amazing, I don't care whose recording is whose favorite!

[argerichfan]

Forget Gilels and Richter and Serkin.

I just 'happened' to be breezing by this forum and caught OSK red-handed with the above. ^

Three titans in Brahms 2 and they're dismissed with insolent sleight of hand?

The perfidy... 

[orangesodaking]

Yup.

I know that you're not always the biggest fan of her playing, but it really has everything that you feel she lacks in other things such as Rach's 3rd or Liszt B Minor or Schumann's Fantasy... It's very, very powerful, very fiery, and in my opinion, much more dramatic, much more held together, and follows MUCH better than anybody else I've ever heard.

[tompilk]

Jesus christ, I'm so embarassed that someone's dragged this post up, that I feel compelled to post for the first time in years!

I'll just say that Stephen Hough and the Brahms Concerti have now provided me with some of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I hardly recognise the person who started this thread!

What an embarassment!

[thalbergmad]

Gawd, pilky is back.

Thal

[pianowolfi]

Cool, I remember him too!

[dbrainiak914]

The third movement of Alicia's Brahms 2 was finally uploaded to YouTube, and it follows her majestic style accordingly.