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Track Listings
| 1. I. Maestoso |
| 2. II. Adagio |
| 3. III. Rondo (Allegro non troppo) |
| 4. No.1 in G Minor |
| 5. No.2 in D Minor |
| 6. No.3 in F Major |
| 7. No.4 in F Minor |
| 8. No.5 in F Sharp Minor |
| 9. No.7 in A Major |
| 10. No.11 in A Minor |
| 11. No.14 in D Minor |
| 12. No.17 in F Sharp Minor |
Product Description
Product Description
For his 5th recording on Virgin Classics, Nicholas Angelich furthers his exploration of the Brahms' masterpieces for piano. Following the global critical acclaim of his two piano recital and two chamber albums, he tackles the great demanding work of Brahms' youth, the Piano Concerto in D minor, together with with Paavo Järvi and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony.
Angelich couples this complex work with what are considered Brahms' most popular works, the Hungarian Dances, accompanied by the French pianist Frank Braley. Out of the twenty-one composed by Brahms, the programme offers nine Dances, here in their original form for four hands and featuring the most famous Hungarian Dance, No. 5, in F-sharp minor.
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sensitive and perceptive new recording to join the top rank of choice
13 Dec 2012
By I. Giles
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This recording, made in 2007, is one of the series of very impressive and musically rewarding discs of Brahms made by Nicholas Angelich and which, once hooked, I have bought in its entirety.
There is no shortage of much admired recordings of central repertoire such as this piano concerto. Even in my own scaled down library players such as Curzon, Gilels, Fleisher, Friere and Kovacevich still compete for attention and every one of them have been described as individually outstanding, or even as definitive, in the past. For another to be added to this list it must have something special to offer and this Angelich has.
The special feature that he brings to his playing of this concerto for instance, quite apart from the obvious requirement to be able to play all the notes with apparent ease, is a natural lyrical expressiveness. This characteristic is not added on as part of an interpretation. It seems to inform his very way of thinking about every note, every turn of phrase. In this way he is able to bring a certain gentleness to bear while never for a moment, faltering in rising to every climatic moment with appropriate power.
The orchestra is well-led by Paavo Jarvi who proves to be an attentive and supportive partner. The recording is both clear and well-balanced.
The disc is completed with a selection of 9 Hungarian Dances in the version for 4 hands. In this Angelich is partnered by Frank Braley, a notable pianist in his own right and whom I first came across in his impressive DVD recital at the Roque d'Antheron concerts
Obviously in such a crowded market it would be unwise and doubtful to suggest a clear winner. However, what it is possible to do is to suggest that this fine disc deserves to be considered along with the finest available. Purchasers are unlikely to feel in any way dissatisfied and may do as I have done, and collect more of Angelich's discs.
There is no shortage of much admired recordings of central repertoire such as this piano concerto. Even in my own scaled down library players such as Curzon, Gilels, Fleisher, Friere and Kovacevich still compete for attention and every one of them have been described as individually outstanding, or even as definitive, in the past. For another to be added to this list it must have something special to offer and this Angelich has.
The special feature that he brings to his playing of this concerto for instance, quite apart from the obvious requirement to be able to play all the notes with apparent ease, is a natural lyrical expressiveness. This characteristic is not added on as part of an interpretation. It seems to inform his very way of thinking about every note, every turn of phrase. In this way he is able to bring a certain gentleness to bear while never for a moment, faltering in rising to every climatic moment with appropriate power.
The orchestra is well-led by Paavo Jarvi who proves to be an attentive and supportive partner. The recording is both clear and well-balanced.
The disc is completed with a selection of 9 Hungarian Dances in the version for 4 hands. In this Angelich is partnered by Frank Braley, a notable pianist in his own right and whom I first came across in his impressive DVD recital at the Roque d'Antheron concerts
Obviously in such a crowded market it would be unwise and doubtful to suggest a clear winner. However, what it is possible to do is to suggest that this fine disc deserves to be considered along with the finest available. Purchasers are unlikely to feel in any way dissatisfied and may do as I have done, and collect more of Angelich's discs.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the best recording of this work I have heard for a long time .Superb playing and wonderful recording
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent Brahms recording!
17 April 2008
By Chicago Musician
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
This is an excellent new Brahms recording from Nicholas Angelich and Pavel Järvi. Angelich plays with great beauty and variety of tone and observes Brahms's dynamic markings meticulously. The soloist's first entry is truly played piano, as marked in the score, yet he has huge reserves of power when needed. He phrases beautifully, and only occasionally fails to convince with his rubato.The orchestral playing is excellent and the orchestral balance is exemplary. An excellent performance, which is far superior to recent recordings by Andsnes and Zimerman.
The Hungarian dances are an inspired coupling. Angelich and Frank Braley relish this music and they play with great rythmic verve and kaleidascopic colors. Their ensemble is truly breathtaking!
The Hungarian dances are an inspired coupling. Angelich and Frank Braley relish this music and they play with great rythmic verve and kaleidascopic colors. Their ensemble is truly breathtaking!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Commanding and Enjoyable Brahms
18 Oct 2008
By I. Martinez-Ybor
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Brahms First sounds like music that initially must be tamed before beauties are to be revealed. The very good news indeed is that Nicholas Angelich, as we had begun to suspect from earlier chamber recordings, is its total master, and indeed reveals all the beauties inherent in this great score. His interpretation, together with Jarvi, presents a great piece of music which incorporates an astoundingly difficult piano part here played with power, nuance, beauty of tone, sense of structure (no, Angelich does not fight the orchestra nor is he swamped by it), rather with clarity, insight and power, we have a collaboration that reveals the score in its majestic sweep. One has to go back to the Zimerman and Bernstein dvdBrahms: Piano Concertos 1-2for as satisfying a performance. The recorded sound is magnificent.
The selection of Hungarian Dances played by Angelich with Frank Braley in their original piano four-hands version are sheer delight, and an easy flowing complement to the final rondo movement of the concerto. The virtuosity, rhythmic freedom, the coloristic piano detail that these two wonderful pianists bring to their playing will bring delight to the many hearings this CD will elicit. Every note just seems to be right, with no more and no less the lightness of touch or heavy accent that is called for in the score, while always sounding honest and spontaneous, both pianists swinging side by side to the slancios in the music and the vibrant gypsy rhythms. One cannot help but feel that Angelich and Braley thoroughly enjoyed recording these pieces, and makes one wish to play with some imaginary friend sitting by one's side in front of the keyboard. Hearing this, one is reminded how much fun playing piano four-hands can truly be.
The selection of Hungarian Dances played by Angelich with Frank Braley in their original piano four-hands version are sheer delight, and an easy flowing complement to the final rondo movement of the concerto. The virtuosity, rhythmic freedom, the coloristic piano detail that these two wonderful pianists bring to their playing will bring delight to the many hearings this CD will elicit. Every note just seems to be right, with no more and no less the lightness of touch or heavy accent that is called for in the score, while always sounding honest and spontaneous, both pianists swinging side by side to the slancios in the music and the vibrant gypsy rhythms. One cannot help but feel that Angelich and Braley thoroughly enjoyed recording these pieces, and makes one wish to play with some imaginary friend sitting by one's side in front of the keyboard. Hearing this, one is reminded how much fun playing piano four-hands can truly be.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Angelich's lyrical way with this concerto is more personal than most
2 April 2008
By Santa Fe Listener
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
This review is a corrective to an earlier unfavorable one I wrote two years ago. Since then, a triumphant recording of the Brahms Second Cto. was issued by Nicholas Angelich and Paavo Jarvi. In light of that, I wondered if I had gotten off on the wrong foot with their Brahms First Cto., recorded in 2008. It's heartening to root for rising pianists, and I had expected a lot from Angelich, american born and turning 41 this year. He is Paris-based and has recorded Brahms chamber music to critical acclaim.
My initial reaciton had been that this Brahms First was soft-grained and shapeless. Paavo Jarvi gets off to a fairly low-key start, with reticent phrasing and not much attempt to discipline Brahms's sprawling exposition. When Angelich enters, he falls in line, giving us lovely, mellow piano sounds (abetted by an outstanding recording) that don't bring the solo part into sharp enough focus. This is a heroic work, and we are supposed to sense the stuggle and conflict inherent in a stream of grand events. At least that's how most successful soloists approach the Bwork, in my experience. Floating on a cloud isn't a satisfying substitute.
That was then, but now I am more sympathetic to a softer, more lyrical approach, reminding myself that Ivan Moravec shaped his Brahms concerto recordings along much the same lines. Jarvi and Angelich clearly want to make a new impression, one of unbroken lyrical flow, and they stay true to their conception through the Adagio and finale. I still wish for more dramatic tension and rhythmic vitality, but this is a real interpretation, and I find myself respecting it more the second time around.
The CD is filled out with nine Hungarian Dances, played four-hand by Angelich with Frank Braley. The absence of punch and vitality in these silky performances leads me to believe that Angelich sees Brahms very differently from the way I do -- smoother, carefully nuanced, and much less robust and energetic. There's room for that approach, just not at the very summit.
My initial reaciton had been that this Brahms First was soft-grained and shapeless. Paavo Jarvi gets off to a fairly low-key start, with reticent phrasing and not much attempt to discipline Brahms's sprawling exposition. When Angelich enters, he falls in line, giving us lovely, mellow piano sounds (abetted by an outstanding recording) that don't bring the solo part into sharp enough focus. This is a heroic work, and we are supposed to sense the stuggle and conflict inherent in a stream of grand events. At least that's how most successful soloists approach the Bwork, in my experience. Floating on a cloud isn't a satisfying substitute.
That was then, but now I am more sympathetic to a softer, more lyrical approach, reminding myself that Ivan Moravec shaped his Brahms concerto recordings along much the same lines. Jarvi and Angelich clearly want to make a new impression, one of unbroken lyrical flow, and they stay true to their conception through the Adagio and finale. I still wish for more dramatic tension and rhythmic vitality, but this is a real interpretation, and I find myself respecting it more the second time around.
The CD is filled out with nine Hungarian Dances, played four-hand by Angelich with Frank Braley. The absence of punch and vitality in these silky performances leads me to believe that Angelich sees Brahms very differently from the way I do -- smoother, carefully nuanced, and much less robust and energetic. There's room for that approach, just not at the very summit.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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