VIDEO: Brahms, Intermezzo, op. 118/2

[lateromantic]

I first worked on this Brahms Intermezzo at Juilliard in 1970 or 1971, but I don't think I was emotionally mature enough to appreciate it at that age, so I put it away for many decades.  But the work really fits my Romantic temperament as the latter has developed over the years, so last spring I decided to revive it.  I sought out coaching on the piece from Israeli pianist Rami Bar-Niv at one of his piano camps and then recorded it in late September for this video.

I hope you enjoy it, and comments are welcome!

[ted]

I really enjoy your playing of romantic piano music, possibly because you do not hesitate to imbue pieces with the same spirit underlying your own creations. I have no idea what this particular piece represented to Brahms, but broadly speaking I hear the same yearning for a finer reality which seems intrinsic to the romantic temperament, the sort of aesthetic which later flowered in the music of Finzi, Bax, Ireland and Bridge in England. As David April (rachfan) has shown in his wonderful playing on this forum - pity he seems to have vanished - there were also several Russians who took the same direction to equal effect.

[lateromantic]

I really enjoy your playing of romantic piano music, possibly because you do not hesitate to imbue pieces with the same spirit underlying your own creations. I have no idea what this particular piece represented to Brahms, but broadly speaking I hear the same yearning for a finer reality which seems intrinsic to the romantic temperament, the sort of aesthetic which later flowered in the music of Finzi, Bax, Ireland and Bridge in England. As David April (rachfan) has shown in his wonderful playing on this forum - pity he seems to have vanished - there were also several Russians who took the same direction to equal effect.

Thank you, ted.  Yes, you're right, I try to bring to a piece like this one the same Romantic spirit that I express in my own compositions.  Translating your description into a slightly different philosophical perspective, I see Romanticism as expressing a yearning for a high potential in life, something beyond our usual mundane existence yet still within the potential of the human spirit.

[patrickbcox]

Beautifully played!  Thanks for sharing.

[lateromantic]

Beautifully played!  Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Patrick!