Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 [Import, Original recording remastered]

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Eugen Jochum (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Emil Gilels (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Emil Gilels
• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Eugen Jochum
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GQY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,704 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Fantasies
  • #34 in Music > Imports > Classical
  • #70 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Keyboard > Piano

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heroic - and my favorite reading hands down, November 10, 2005

By 

Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadoo (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 (Audio CD)

These readings are legendary. I searched and searched for a good set, first trying Zimerman/Bernstein (horrid recording quality, saggy accompaniment) then trying some older recordings (Katchen/Ferencik, Kovacevich/Davis, Rubinstein/Ormandy), then even a different version by the same performer (Gilels/Reiner/CSO) and finally going to an old favorite of mine on the keyboard (Pollini/Abbado). In all cases, I was not really a fan of a) either the ensembles' un-Brahmsian (in my opinion) accompaniment or b) the soloists' interpretations or execution. However, these recordings, when I first bought them in the old DG Galleria release, were a revelation. Gilels' playing can best be described as monumental, and Jochum's direction is Brahmsian to the core. Jochum, who always excelled in music of this level of grandeur (listen to his Bruckner!), constructs a firm yet supple orchestral line which perfectly complements Gilels, who is by turns elemental and serene. These are magical performances, and the result is a rarity in that both concertos are amongst the greatest ever readings of the works (especially for #2; only Fleisher/Szell, Backhaus/Bohm and Anda/Fricsay come close - #1 has serious competition from Fleisher/Szell and Curzon/Szell). For the sake of comparison, in #2, the Fleisher and Backhaus sound rushed next to this performance, particularly the Fleisher; and while the Anda reading is much closer in terms of overall approach - ultra-legato - Anda stumbles occassionally during some of the most fiendish passages where Gilels does not. In Concerto #1, I'm a bit divided, as both the expansive performance on this disc and Szell's quick, incisive and direct accompaniment work equally well.
I suppose I should also mention that the Fantasias, op. 116, are masterfully interpreted here and are the best I've heard, far above and beyond Kempff, Katchen or Lupu. It's a great filler, although it would be insulting to call them that. A pity Gilels didn't live long enough to record Opp. 117-119. One final minor annoyance: I don't understand what happened to the Ballades Op. 10, which used to be included in the old Galleria release.
As for the sound: with the new DG Originals transfer, the sound finally matches the performances; gone are the whiny strings and the somewhat hollow sound from the original transfer, and in its place we have a recording that sounds almost brand new, with great clarity in the brass, piano, and orchestral forces. The liner notes are a little weak, which I've noticed on a lot of these "Originals" releases.
With all that being said: If you must only have one recording of these two concertos, then this is the one to get. Truly desert island stuff.

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a truly great recording, October 5, 2006

By 

Frank Bunyard (Elk Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 (Audio CD)

To my mind neither Eugen Jochum nor Emil Gilels received the acclaim appropriate to their genius while they were living. Even now it appears they are appreciated mainly by a small clique of true classical music lovers.

These two performances of Brahms' Piano Concertos are flawless. They were both recorded in 1972 when Jochum was age 69, and Gilels was 55. Two masters in their mature prime. Add to this The Berlin Philharmonic and recording by Deutsche Grammophon. This is perfect Brahms. The treatment of both concertos is equally superb, achieving a synthesis of piano and orchestra in performances of unfolding eloquence and power.

In 1987 at age 85 (a year before he died) Eugen Jochum was asked in an interview about his memory of great recordings. He singled out the 1972 Brahms with Gilels as perhaps the finest recording of his career.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FAVORITE PIANO CONCERTI, January 3, 2006

By 

GEORGE RANNIE "GWRJWMCL" (DENVER, COLORADO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: Concertos for Piano No. 1 & 2, Fantasia Op. 116 (Audio CD)

Brahms's monumental piano concertos are my very favorite piano concertos. Therefore, I own many recordings of same. Nevertheless, this recording with Gilels and Jochum is my absolute favorite! It is a recording that I've listened to, at least, once a week for many years. Gilels and Jochum truly play these "monsters of the form" wonderfully capturing Brahms's fierceness as well as his tenderness beautifully.

Truth be known, I slightly prefer the 1st concerto-I know that is a musical sacrilege. My god, Gilels plays the hell out of that work delivering those (what I call) "trills of death" in the first movement in such a manner that it still sends chills up and down my spine no matter how many time I have listened to the work.

DGG has done a superb job in it transfer to this "new" CD form. I owned the original vinyl recordings; however, I feel these CDs give the recording more depth with the sound being far richer.

If you want to hear a legendary and sublime recording of the Brahms's Piano Concertos,buy these discs.