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Topic: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording? (Read 9819 times)

bjm412

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Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

on: August 21, 2007, 09:00:56 AM

What is the best/your favorite recording of Brahms' Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel (op.24)?

I have Katchen's rendition, which is absolutely amazing. This made me fall in love with the piece. Sublime performance.

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steinwaymodeld

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #1 on: August 21, 2007, 10:46:29 AM

Katchen was solid

but i prefer Richter's live one, Ernst Levy and Egon Petri

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pianistimo

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #2 on: August 21, 2007, 01:10:45 PM

alexei lubimov isn't bad. kinda sparkly playing. not as 'choralish' as light. you'll never find as clear of playing, though. it's one of a kind.

https://www.rhino.com/store/digital/detail.lasso?upc=809274998668

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fnork

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #3 on: August 21, 2007, 03:12:16 PM

I have a great Brahms CD with Francisca Skoogh, she includes the Handel suite on which Brahms made the variations, too:
https://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=5921

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burstroman

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #4 on: August 22, 2007, 02:09:13 AM

I've always liked the recording by Arrau.

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mikey6

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #5 on: August 22, 2007, 04:21:07 AM

Solomon was good, and Katchen.

Just to add, since this piece is in my repertoire atm, that fugue is the most horribly un-pianistic, uncomfortable piece i've ever played!

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fnork

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #6 on: August 22, 2007, 10:14:50 AM

really? I read it through once (slowly) and the fugue seemed okay but I might be wrong after just a readthrough of course... what are the difficulties in it?

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imbetter

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #7 on: August 22, 2007, 02:06:16 PM

ive never listened to this piece and theres no youtube video. were can i listen to it for free?

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"My advice to young musicians: Quit music! There is no choice. It has to be a calling, and even if it is and you think there's a choice, there is no choice"-Vladimir Feltsman

mephisto

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #8 on: August 22, 2007, 03:07:48 PM

Quote from: imbetter on August 22, 2007, 02:06:16 PM

ive never listened to this piece and theres no youtube video. were can i listen to it for free?

Here is the only non-commercial recording I can share with you. As I belive it's against the rules of this forum to post commerical recordings. It's a Pletnev recordings from the Wigmore Hall 27.10.1995.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/654b17

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imbetter

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #9 on: August 22, 2007, 03:10:40 PM

thank you very much mephisto

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"My advice to young musicians: Quit music! There is no choice. It has to be a calling, and even if it is and you think there's a choice, there is no choice"-Vladimir Feltsman

thalberg

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #10 on: August 22, 2007, 04:28:59 PM

I have Emmanuel Ax's recording. It's not bad.

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jinfiesto

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #11 on: August 22, 2007, 10:32:39 PM

Stephen kovacevich has a recording... And I thought it was pretty good.

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nodoubt328

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #12 on: May 22, 2009, 05:52:23 AM

Just heard Katchen's recording which also made me fall in love with the piece. Splendid.

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retrouvailles

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #13 on: May 22, 2009, 06:00:10 AM

Quote from: nodoubt328 on May 22, 2009, 05:52:23 AM

Just heard Katchen's recording which also made me fall in love with the piece. Splendid.

Did you have to revive a nearly 2 year old thread to say that?

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communist

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #14 on: May 22, 2009, 10:55:42 AM

Pletnev's is very good and tds's is very good.

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edwardweiss

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #15 on: May 23, 2009, 07:07:49 PM

As one might expect from me, three 'outsiders'. Number one-the very great Egon Petri, recorded 1938. Number two- Jorge Bolet, recorded `1980. And last of all-Sergio Fiorentino, recorded 1965. BTW-the fugue is not too unpianistic if you have worked your way through most of Brahms' '51 Exercises'!

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ramseytheii

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #16 on: May 25, 2009, 12:08:40 AM

Quote from: edwardweiss on May 23, 2009, 07:07:49 PM

As one might expect from me, three 'outsiders'. Number one-the very great Egon Petri, recorded 1938. Number two- Jorge Bolet, recorded `1980. And last of all-Sergio Fiorentino, recorded 1965. BTW-the fugue is not too unpianistic if you have worked your way through most of Brahms' '51 Exercises'!

Unpianistic is unpianistic, no matter how many exercises you do.

In any case, Brahms wrote piano music deliberately to be unpianistic, according to Charles Rosen. He was the sort of Anti-Liszt of the piano; his exercises are also very uncomfortable.

The fugue is not pianistic, but it is not the most awkward thing Brahms wrote.

Walter Ramsey

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ramseytheii

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #17 on: May 25, 2009, 12:09:12 AM

Quote from: steinwaymodeld on August 21, 2007, 10:46:29 AM

Katchen was solid

but i prefer Richter's live one, Ernst Levy and Egon Petri

I love Ernst Levy, I didn't know he recorded this.. how can I hear it? Is it published?

Also, is the Petri published?

Walter Ramsey

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edwardweiss

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #18 on: May 25, 2009, 06:01:44 PM

Petri's performance is on 'Egon Petri Volume 3' which was on Pearl-Pavilion label. I do not know whether it is still available. Number is GEMM CDS 9078.

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communist

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Re: Brahms/Handel Variations and Fugue - Favorite Recording?

Reply #19 on: May 25, 2009, 06:40:51 PM

Quote from: ramseytheii on May 25, 2009, 12:09:12 AM

I love Ernst Levy, I didn't know he recorded this.. how can I hear it? Is it published?

Also, is the Petri published?

Walter Ramsey

His performance is on YouTube

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"The stock markets go up and down, Bach only goes up"

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