Customer Reviews

Alfred Brendel 3

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For those who think Brendel is purely a Mozartian with bits of Beethoven here and there, Brendel does show he has the capacity, both musically and technically, to pull off some excellent performances of some of the most difficult Romantic repertoire. The highlight of this CD is the Brahms Piano Concerto no.1, in which Brendel displays an inate understanding of the various nuances of the music. Possibly the most difficult of the 19th century concertos because of its length and awkward hand-positions required, Brendel displays an extremely impressive accuracy and sustains his interpretation throughout the entire piece. This performance is up there with the Curzon of 1962 and the Rubinstein of 1954. The Liszt Totentanz is quite incredible as well, a brisk tempo is sustained and the power and intensity never wavers. Definitely a great set of recordings!

Brendel and Liszt seem at first glance an odd combination when one thinks of him playing quiet Schubert or Haydn. But in this selection of some live performances, he not only delivers his long aknowledged insight into the true meaning of the printed score, but brings the natural flair needed for this kind of music. His "Obermann" may not be as exciting as the Horowitz 1966 version, but nevertheless it is a reading that pulls the listener into a lengthy communion with the performer.

Best of all here is the Busoni which ends the recital. Played at incredible speed and nerve, can any performance be as daredevil as this?