Brahms piano concerto 1, mvt 1 (2of3), Ashkenazy, Giulini

[Zetadraconis]

What a heck, a whole bunch of smashed keys from reh Letter D (esp. mm. 280 to 283), at around 6:30, it pains my ears! He murders the whole first page of Letter D, mm. 278-286. Men, I can play this section (and a lot more), faster and without smashing the neighbouring keys!

[iwavns]

Brahms finished composing this 2 years after his friend Robert Schumann attempted suicide and became mad, finally dying in 1856. (according to Wikipedia)...That's why this concerto is so sad...Besides, I thought it sounded more like a symphony and Wikipedia confirmed that it originally was intended to be one.

[iwavns]

What's with the 2 dislikes?...@chuck13s...for me it is not creepy, but it brings tears to my eyes...the 2nd theme is like a love song of unrequited love..

[watutman]

Actually this isn't bad. I still like best Rudolf Serkin, piano, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell best, CBS Masterworks.

[nephrochessicle]

4:23 - butchered!

[MyLordLoke]

Very beautiful!

[Zetadraconis]

@MyLordLoke This concerto, yes; this performance, nope.

[elpapaya94]

why is the first movement so long?

[iwavns]

@elpapaya94 Because Brahms originally intended to write it as a symphony...

[doublestop100]

Ahhhhhhh! The video was interrupted right at the best place of the 1st movement. What a shame..... :(

[Zetadraconis]

@doublestop100 hehehehehehe....

[Junpyo323]

when did this video be recorded?

maybe around 70s, right?

[Cavaradossi1981]

it's ok but not terrific... he is always so.He doesn't really have a sound of his own.Sometimes I think that he plays like a very good student but nothing (?) more comes

[Haeronthegreat]

I think Mr. Ashkenazy's tone may be suffering due to a badly recorded piano here. He's an incredibly forceful player when he wants to be, incredibly quiet when he wants to be.

[dinulipatti1950]

i like him as well as this recording a lot, but the F major octaves should be a bit differently played, isn't it? too less power!

[Baronski13]

Wonderful playing--berlioz, i completely disagree with your evaluation of the tone. He has a wide variety of sounds, but like a true professional, never makes a rough sound. My compliments to Ashkenazy, and thanks for putting this up, tgulot

[jarabass]

Then who it is a great preformer

[mathpianist93]

What Ashkenazy elicits out of the orchestra is power in the right moments as well as pure calm!

[mathpianist93]

I meant Giulini.

[robmcman]

you mean Giulini. Whoops, you already corrected yourself weeks ago, making this comment a total waste of time.

You mean Ashkenazy.

[mathpianist93]

no I really mean Giulini; HE is the one who is conducting here!

[mathpianist93]

If there is any one important thing that Ashkenazy should be lauded for, it's for his deep passion (but NOT sentiment) for the music he is playing.

[berlioz1830]

Since the last post I met him a few times, and I heard some great performances by him, so I developed a higher appreciation of his achievements. And he is a real gentleman

[vcupiano]

berlioz, please bless us with your divine playing abilities, obviously you are a far superior player than ashkenazy, who by the way shared first place in the Tchaikovsky competition with john ogdon, but that means nothing your words are powerful and your playing will transcend all of us to a new plain

[berlioz1830]

As far as the accuracy is concerned, he is doing fine (which is not easy), but there is very little else. Tempi are sluggish and the touch is monochromatic-always the same- vertical,hard, not poetic..He is dedicated,sincere and passionate,super-high level, but not enough for really great performance of any piece..

[mathpianist93]

yes, he is passionate, but about his tone, we really don't know if it's his fault, the piano's fault, or the video's fault. I would not say that the tempi are sluggish.

[berlioz1830]

My respect to the poster, as well for Maestros Giulini and Askhenazy. Please don't get upset, but in a way this is really a terrible performance of the piece. I understand it is very hard to perform in public, especially when one is famous, but there is no variegated technic there with Mr.Askhenazy.

[Bitterblogger]

All the pianists' interpretations are no doubt wonderful; it just comes down to which particular one hits that "place" inside, whether it be expressiveness, tempo, emotion, or whatever...BTW, I have a version with the young Leon Fleischer that I prefer...but highest kudos to them all.

[spikeelduro]

Ashkenazy is wonderful.

[suzettegm]

I like it,as it is my favorite piano concerto too but I do prefer Rubinstein in this, sorry, not here on youtube

[mathpianist93]

suzettegm, there is a video with Rubinstein-Haitink playing this entire concerto... Just ask Stravinskij0... But like this video, the volume is soft, so you will have to increase your speaker volume.

[anblanco333]

oh, excelent, this is my favorite piano concerto, i don´t know why is not very famous, the rondó is unbelieveable perfect! Ashkenazy is one of the greatest of course, i like huis attack, so strong and clear. thank´s

[tguiot]

please, some tranlsation in english ? i like to know what people are saying in their comments... thanks

[chuckl3s]

"perfection as normal case - thus i know nobody, who recorded so much - and everything in so high quality!" (German)

---

Btw. the Motive this part starts with gives me the creeps everytime i hear it. my favourite piano concerto.

[eppurs1muove]

er ... he refers to Giulini or Askenazy? Giulini was a great one, and a true gentleman, while I don't think Ashkenazy was always as great. Here A is good, but among the recordings most would agree Gilels&Jochum are unsurpassed - there is a truly magic moment in their 2nd Mvt - everyone I played it, has difficulty to hide their emotion right there.

[drjuleso]

ahhh, lovely.

[Reynartthefox]

Such amazing music. Thanks for the posting. I saw Ashkenazy many years ago when he performed this work for the very first time in London.