Wilhelm Kempff I (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) Brahms, Schuman

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Robert Schumann (Composer), Wilhelm Kempff (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Wilhelm Kempff
• Composer: Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann
• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips/DG/Decca
• ASIN: B00000DBUG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,703 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #80 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Ballads

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Fantasias, Op. 116: 1.Capriccio In D Minor

2. Fantasias, Op. 116: 2.Intermezzo In A Minor

3. Fantasias, Op. 116: 3.Capriccio In G Minor

4. Fantasias, Op. 116: 4.Intermezzo In E

5. Fantasias, Op. 116: 5.Intermezzo In E Minor

6. Fantasias, Op. 116: 6.Intermezzo In E

7. Fantasias, Op. 116: 7.Capriccio In D Minor

8. Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 1 In E Flat

9. Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 2 In B Flat Minor

10. Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 3 In C Sharp Minor

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Ballades, Op. 10: No. 1 In D Minor

2. Ballades, Op. 10: No. 2 In D

3. Ballades, Op. 10: No. 3 In B Minor

4. Ballades, Op. 10: No. 4 In B

5. Klavierstucke, Op. 76: 1.Capriccio In F Sharp Minor

6. Klavierstucke, Op. 76: 2.Capriccio In B Minor

7. Klavierstucke, Op. 76: 3.Intermezzo In A Flat

8. Klavierstucke, Op. 76: 4.Intermezzo In B Flat

9. Klavierstucke, Op. 76: 5.Capriccio In C Sharp Minor

10. Klavierstucke, Op. 76: 6.Intermezzo In A

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Op. 118 for the ages!, November 17, 1998

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[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wilhelm Kempff I (Great Pianists of the 20th Century) Brahms, Schuman (Audio CD)

Kempff is a well known name among Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann lovers and this 2cd set contains some very fine Schumann playing. But the lion's share of space on these discs is given to Brahms, and there isn't a wasted millisecond anywhere. As for the Op.118, (six pieces that include 4 Intermezzi, a Romance and a Ballade), it would be impossible, in this space, to do the playing justice. I thought I knew the Op.118 well - I was mistaken. Kempff plays with such poetry and grace that I found myself wondering if this was not Brahms' finest Opus after all. What stuns is the refined elegance of the playing that sacrifices nothing to the intense ardour of these pieces. Kempff has always been more powerful than one realizes on first hearing and that is due to his unequalled (to my ears) touch and his instinct for sounding the poetry without sacrificing the form. If these recordings, which date from the 50s, are superior to his DG remakes from the 60s, it is because of the stark beauty of the phrasing. And the sound, be assured, is excellent; Philips has done a flawless remastering job. When you get your hands on these discs, (Vol. 55 in the ongoing Philips' series of "Great Pianists of the 20th Century"), stop whatever you're doing and go straight to Op.118 for a rife glimpse of Brahms' soul.