Glorious

Like many lovers of Brahms, I know several versions of these two wonderful concertos (Arrau / Giulini, Gilels / Jochum, Brendel / Abbado, Pollini / Abbado, Freire / Chailly), but it grabs the listener with a force extraordinary that others do not. The tempi are rather lively and there in the outer movements eruptive power and energy, a power, which are completely exhilarating. In the slow movement, poetry is there, palpable, a lyricism that grips the heart. It is absolutely beautiful.

The other reason to classify this double album atop the discography, it is the songs offered in addition to the program: the op. 91 (two songs for voice, viola and piano) is one of the most beautiful things written by Brahms. As for the 5 songs of Op. 105, but not in my opinion quite as essential as op. 91, they are nevertheless also of great finesse. Ann Murray was certainly not an exceptional voice, but she still finds the accents that affect. And Kovacevich (with viola Nobuko Imai in op.91) brings him a perfect support.

They are rare discs that electrified the opening minutes: these are part!

NB: this double album is also in a collection at the moment (September 2012) more economical.