Piano Concerto 2

Brahms (Artist), Bachauer (Artist), Skrowaczewski (Artist), Lso (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000057MC
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,842 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat, Op. 83: 1. Allegro non troppo

2. Piano Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat, Op. 83: 2. Allegro appassionato

3. Piano Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat, Op. 83: 3. Andante

4. Piano Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat, Op. 83: 4. Allegretto grazioso

5. Variations On ATheme By Paganini, Op. 35 (Book II): Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 35 (Book II)

6. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C-Sharp Minor

7. Piano Sonata No. 9 In E Major, Op. 14, No.1: 1. Allegro

8. Piano Sonata No. 9 In E Major, Op. 14, No.1: 2. Allegretto

9. Piano Sonata No. 9 In E Major, Op. 14, No.1: 3. Rondo: Allegro comodo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gina Who?, July 15, 2000

By 

"tvsfrank" (Winter Park, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Piano Concerto 2 (Audio CD)

I just purchased this CD and instantly fell in love with the performance. I have long been a Brahms fan and his 2nd concerto is perhaps my favorite of all piano concertos. I have heard many and own many versions of this concerto and this one ranks right up there with the all-time greats. I had never heard of Gina Bachauer before, but I am well aquainted with the Mercury Living Presence series. I thought I would take a chance and I was not disappointed. Her playing is wonderful and fully in control. She seems to have captured the "autumnal quality" that is characteristic of most of Brahms' works. Skrowaczewski has the London sounding richer and fuller than I've ever heard them before. They usually sound lean and bright but here they are simply rich and dark. The additional pieces by Brahms, Liszt, and Beethoven are a extra added bonus that only brings out more of this pianist great range. The Liszt piece she absolutely attacks and gives it a fierceness rarely heard in other peformances. The recording itself is yet another milestone in the Mercury Living Presence series. Wilma Cozart and her crew has done a magnificent job at capturing this performance. You may not hear a better recording, unless it's Sony's Super Audio CD's or one of the DVD audio discs. The sound clarity is unbelievably realistic with the piano never sounding confined or compressed. It has a lush and warmth that is rarely heard on standard CD recordings. This is in large part to the fact that the concerto was recorded on three-track 35mm film master tape. Simply put, this CD is a hidden treasure that not many know about, but should. If you love Brahms and his 2nd piano concerto this CD is certainly worth having .

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bachauer Legacy, October 13, 2006

By 

Carl Crosier (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Piano Concerto 2 (Audio CD)

My first "Bachauer experience" was in the early 1960's when she performed the Brahms Second Piano Concerto with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. I was completely captivated by the grand architecture, soaring lines, and exquisite detail of Mme. Bachauer's reading of this masterwork. I was thoroughly delighted to find this recording released by Mercury Records shortly thereafter. It has remained in my library in both LP and CD format ever since.I had the good fortune to hear this extraordinary pianist live on several subsequent occasions in concertos of Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Greig, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, some of which were recorded and are still available. She made another recording of the Brahms Concerto later with the same orchestra but another conductor. This one remains my favorite primarily because of the extraordinary sound quality of this disc, even by today's standards. The addition of the Brahms Paganini Variations, Beethoven Sonata and Liszt Rhapsody are an added bonus in documenting the unique artistry of one of the great pianists of the 20th century. This is a "must have" CD for all lovers of the Brahms B flat concerto.
Carl Crosier

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most fiery, impassioned account of Brahms piano conc. no 2, September 20, 2007

By 

P. Dave "pranav23" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Piano Concerto 2 (Audio CD)

I have listened to Brahms Piano concerto No 2. for years. It is one of my favorite piano concertos. I've listened to many including the famous Gilels/Jochum on DG but like a few others, I found that recording to be too slow and ponderous for my liking. I want the Brahms no 2 with fire, power and passion, especially in the first movement. Look no further than this recording my friend. I promise it will get you hooked on first listening. The orchestral accompaniment is rich and dark. There is no need to "grow into" this recording. Believe me, I really tried to like the Gilels/Jochum one. Thinking to myself, why am I not liking this famous recording? This recording with Gina is alive. Sound is absolutely amazing. Listen for yourself and see why this is one of the greatest Brahms Piano Concerto 2 out there. It is a hidden gem to be treasured.