Brahms Op 116 - Complete

[arielpiano]

I may have posted individual pieces of this cycle before, but here it is now all in one file, from a live performance in Rome. The more I play these the more I realize that the slow parts are so much more difficult to interpret than the fast ones.

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[furtwaengler]

I just listened to this whole thing, which was quite enjoyable. The disadvantage of video is that in seeing it I think of an old teacher pointing out Brahms's instance on playing the octaves in no. 1 legato. It's one of those things you can really see, whether you can hear it or not. So with that I stopped watching all together and simply enjoyed the music. You mention the difficulty of the slower pieces, which you are playing pretty well. I always think "more space," although I never know if that's really communicating what I want. It is probably the E minor Intermezzo which is the most challenging to the right sound. What do you think?

[arielpiano]

Actually, the ones I find most difficult are the E major (#4) and especially the A minor (#2), which seems to me to be the most nostalgic one. But maybe there's something in the E minor that I'm missing without being aware of it...

[furtwaengler]

I thought your performance of the A minor was one of the best of the set. There is just something about the peculiar world of the E minor, I don't know. It might have thought it was easier until I heard Sviatoslav Richter totally redefine it.

[arielpiano]

I'll have to listen to Richter again. I think I spent more time on the A minor than on any of the others. I had a master class on it with Victor Rosenbaum, who even wondered whether someone my age could comprehend the mind of the aged Brahms, looking back on his life...

[rachfan]

Hi ariel,

That was a splendid performance of Op. 116!  I listened to all of it, and thoroughly enjoyed your performance.  You really achieved the burnished sound of Brahms. 

David

[arielpiano]

Wow, David. I can't believe you listened to all 20 minutes of it! I'm greatly flattered. I just started working on Davidsbündlertänze. I'm counting on you when I'm ready to post...

[rachfan]

Hi ariel,

Davidsbundelertanze, although an early work, is a milestone in the piano literature.  Good luck with that!  Looking forward to it.

David

[alsimon]

beautiful playing, congratulations!