Brahms - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no.2 in B-flat major (1990)

01. Allegro non troppo    [0:17:09.65]
02. allegro appassionato    [0:08:40.10]
03. andante    [0:12:38.55]
04. allegretto grazioso    [0:09:42.42]

Rudolf Serkin - piano
Cleveland Orchestra
George Szell - conductor

05. R.Strauss-Burleske    [0:19:19.05]

Rudolf Serkin - piano
Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy – conductor

(CBS Masterworks – Great Performances 40)

This concerto is simply the greatest work of its genre, so there is room for more than one way to interpret it. Serkin and Szell serve this Brahms flambé, with a pedal-to-the-metal reading that maximizes the impact and power of the work as no other performance does. No, they don't match the Gilels/Jochum CD's nuance and poetry. Nobody does. But in the second movement, even Gilels--in fact, even the more sprightly Gilels/Reiner performance--sounds like "allegro milktoast" compared to this one.

For almost everyone interested in Brahms, this recording is a "must." Serious collectors will prize its distinctiveness and vitality; newcomers will find no better introduction to Brahms than a performance that is as far from boring as great playing gets. Audiophiles, however, will disdain the Columbia sound, which even in the 1960s might have been clearer and cleaner. --- Paul Sluis (Oakland, CA USA)

Okay, let's cut to the chase? Like Brahms? Like Piano Concerto's then hands down you have to own this recording!!!! Is it old yes. But it is hands down the definitive recording of this remarkable piece of music. Rudolph Serkin was one of the most brilliant pianists of the 20th century and was in fact for many years associated with this piece of music. Szell was one of the great orchetra builders of his time like Reiner in Chicago.

This Piano Concerto is arguably one of the greatest written in its genre. Very unique in that Brahms does not treat the Piano as simply a solo instrument to show off the virtuousity of the solist although there are plenty of passeges in this piece that do that. Rather Brahms creates a concerto where the orchestra and Piano are equals. They play with one another. It is really a symphony in scale and magnitude. One does not overshadow the other.

No other concerto does this. The effect is unbelievable. If you are on a desert insland and can only take 10 records with you, assuming they are all classical, this is one of them!!!! --- D. Spokane, amazon.com

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