Brahms: The Piano Concertos [IMPORT]

Johannes Brahms (Composer)

Product Details

• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (May 31, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Decca Import
• ASIN: B000068QRT
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,298 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Maestoso

2. Adagio

3. Rondo: Allegro Non Troppo

4. Variations And Fugue On A Theme By Handel, Op.24

5. Allegro Non Troppo

6. Allegro Appassionato

7. Andante

8. Allegretto Grazioso

9. Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op.56a

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word, sublime, October 27, 2007

By	Ben (UK) - See all my reviews

There are many versions of Brahms Piano concertos available, and most of them are pretty good. This particular 2 CD set is released on Decca's legacy label. Both Brahms piano concertos are included, and are right up there with the finest in terms of performance and sound. The audio quality is a powerful sonic experience, and is crystal clear with full range dynamics. It's this aspect that edges it over most of the competition. Much of Decca's large output of classical recordings possess superb sound quality, so it's well worth keeping your eyes open for past works released on this label.

As for the music, what can one say? The combination of the great Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink and Russian pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy is a 'dream team' as far as these recordings go. What I particularly liked is that Ashkenazy, unlike certain other renown pianists, doesn't try to over-emphasise slow or fast passages within the movements. Nor does Haitink lead any of the concertos' movements at too slow or quick a pace. It's sounds like it's performed at just the natural tempo intended. But that doesn't mean the performances are too consistent or sound too smooth; quite the contrary. The Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra may not be on the tip of every classical music fan's tongue, but here, with Haitink conducting they sound as good as any of the top world class orchestras.

There are two bonus compositions on each of the CDs - Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, and Variations by Haydn, both very listenable. On these tracks Ashkenazy takes up the baton, and the Cleveland Orchestra play the music.

If you are a Brahms fan and familiar with these works, once you've heard these recordings you will not need any further convincing from me. If you are new to Brahms, what better introduction is there to start you off listening to his work?

* At current exchange rates ($1.44 = £1) the price of this CD is noticeably cheaper to import new from the UK (including overseas shipping fees) than it is to buy in the US, thanks to the sharp decline in the £ against the $ over the past year. So Amazon.co.uk is probably the best way to go price-wise at the moment.

Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, December 5, 2008

By	Roger W. Wood "Music Lover" (Jacksonville, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I came across the combo of Bernard Haitink and Vladimir Ashkenazy quite honestly. Someone gave me their set of Rachmaninoff pcs as a gift. Gosh. They were teriffic! I got more interested. I am, and have been, a big fan of the Brahms concertos for 50 years and have heard them performed by a lot of people during those years. Recently on Youtube video I caught a performance of the Brahms 1st by Carlo Maria Giulini, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Vladimir Ashkenazy. I tore up the earth trying to find the cd of that and couldn't. It was great. When I spied the Haitink-Ashkenazy coupling, I grabbed it as quickly as I could. I have not been disappointed. These two have great chemistry. And their orchestras catch it!

Ashkenazy has had a great relationship over the years with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. He has recorded a lot of things with Haitink and conducted a lot of others with the orchestra. Well, the chemistry is there, and performance of the Brahms 1 is nothing short of sensational. It's the best one I know. It's inspiring, poetic, powerful, and rhapsodic. (Yeah! I do know because I got most of the others.) It is just great.

Now, are you ready for the other surprise? Number 2. It's done with the Vienna Philharmonic and our two principals, Haitink directing and Ashkenazy playing. It is a piece of sheer poetry, inspired all the way, and played and directed by some of the world's best. I just cannot describe this concerto because it is so uniquely poetic and rhapsodic, an example of Brham's more mature work. Great sound. Great playing. Great directing. Very mature and yet powerful and sophisticated performance.

If you're a Brahms lover, then you know the difference between the way you approach each of these concertos. I think their approach to the 2nd is about as mature, powerful, poetic, and beautiful as I have ever heard. I love the maturity of all these principals. Yes, proof is in the pudding. You won't stall out like Gilels and Jochum do. Get it and marvel like me.

These are performances that ought to be getting more play than they are because they are nothing short of sensational. Get them before they get away. Great sound on them too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Brahms: The Piano Concertos, February 22, 2009

By	D. S. HARDEN "a movie fan" (L.A.,CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm somewhat 'new' to Brahmns' Piano Concertos, so I can't really add anything to which has been already said, but, If Vladimir Ashkenazy is working the FortePiano, we are all winners? Five stars for the CD!