Brahms - Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major Op.83 - PART 1 of 6 - RUDOLF SERKIN

[PlushChronicles]

The song that inspired me to learn french horn...

[nymusicfan]

This is a stunning recording. The performance by Serkin and Szell's orchestra can't be beat, and the recording itself, from the early days of stereo, is still awesome. The sound of the piano is so deep and rich (even on my crappy computer speakers). Just brilliant! Thanks for sharing this classic.

[wufferbug]

My favourite piano concerto of all time!!

[paulostroff99]

Awesome. TY deviantrake for posting.

[al1936ful]

The last part is there. The second part isn't.

[paulostroff99]

Superb. TY d for posting.

[dlphcoracl]

Agree with deviantrake and the other posters.

This is a legendary recording that (imho) has never been bettered. Serkin gives a magisterial performance with flawless technical command. Also, one must remember that when this was recorded (early '60's ??) Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra were the pre-eminent ensemble in the U.S. In a way, they were the 1960's equivalent of what Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony were in the 1970's and '80's.

[dlphcoracl]

Agree with deviantrake and the other posters.

This is a legendary recording that (imho) has never been bettered. Serkin gives a magisterial performance with flawless technical command. Also, one must remember that when this was recorded (late '60's ??) Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra were the pre-eminent ensemble in the U.S. In a way, they were the 1960's equivalent of what Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony were in the 1970's and '80's.

[angela44ize]

R. Serkin is majestic, best performance Of Brahams Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major Op.83 I can think of...Orchestra Conductor Szell is indeed a top class Maestro; specially outstanding are the strings in the background! Bravissimo!

[kingjepoy]

This concerto is stuck in my head! I don't know why! Love it!

[OrangeSodaKing]

Thanks for the upload!! I just got the record of Serkin doing the D Minor, expect to see it on YouTube tomorrow. ;)

[Lassannn]

Best version ever so far.

[slothropgr]

Don't suppose you could try reposting? I should be used to this kind of nonsense by now, Murphy's Law of YouTube goes like this: the better the perf, the better the sound, the more likely the posting is screwed up somehow. If not by this kind of crap, then the poster only put up, say, 1 or 2 movements of 3. Why do they do that? It's worse than nothing at all. Thanks anyway, it's still a gorgeous perf.

[slothropgr]

I agree with everything you write about this monument. Had it from Columbia on a twofer back in the vinyl daze. So I only have one question: WHERE THE HELL IS THE LAST PART?? WHAT'S THIS 'NOT AVAILABLE' CRAP??? Verrry frustrating.

[deviantrake]

@slothropgr The last part is there, just look at the drop down box above the video.

[slothropgr]

@deviantrake I quote from the box that pops up instead of part 6 of 6: "This video contains content from Sony Music Entertainment. It is not available in your country.

Sorry about that."

My question, more calmly put, is--why only the last part, and on a recording that's at least 45 years old??

[deviantrake]

@slothropgr Oh I'm sorry to hear that. That's one incredibly annoying aspect of YouTube I can't control unfortunately. I wish I could help.

[romanitza24]

Tiny concerto, indeed... :P Brahms, modest as usual. My favorite piece of Brahms' music, even if it is hard to say with such great music Brahms wrote, which is my favorite from all his works!

[romanitza24]

If only he would have written more " tiny concertos'!!

[agape579]

Rudi Serkin is the best on this concerto, with Szell.

What nobility and restrained passion. Magnifique!

[jorden1221]

that sucks so bad god my moma is better!!!

[Allanfearn]

By the standards of the 1930s this is pretty moderately paced. There was an astonishing and pretty accurate recording by Rubinstein with Albert Coates from 1929 which makes this sound very middle-aged. There is also a recording from the late 1930s with Schnabel, which shows among other things, some of the technical bear-traps in the piano part, and just how well Boult could accompany. But Serkin here is probably as good as you'll get.

[nymusicfan]

I owned this recording many years ago when I was a kid. This is an old recording from the late 60s and still sounds fantastic. It is also, for me, one of the most satisfying performances of this piece I've ever heard. The aggressiveness and muscularity of the playing suits the music like few other recordings. The second movement in particular has always blown me away. Which is not to take away from any of the other movements. And yes, like most of Brahms' works it is exceedingly difficult.

[liranrok1]

wow! really good recording!

[MonaetSham]

High Quality



[llcamus249]

Absolutely magnificent.....bravo!

[truestiltskin]

Get a healthy and education breakfast with raisin brahms!!!

[spockezri]

@truestiltskin I love your comment :3 It's awesome! -shall quote it sometime...-

[caradeescusado]

wazup with the german flag...................brahms gehoert uns allen!

[bzagar1]

@caradeescusado Isn't he German?

[DBGOGIRL]

Brahms: What an amazing composer!!  A+ on this recording...USA

[lordbyronking]

Both Brahms Piano concertos are considered very difficult to play. This one more so, I think, partly because it has four movements instead of the usual three.

This is the best version I've ever heard. Most performers bog it down by playing it too slowly. Serkin and Szell keep the momentum going, though. Same story with their performance of Brahms 1.

[watutman]

@lordbyronking I agree. R. Serkin & Szell do the best performance extant of both Brahms piano concertos.

[OrangeSodaKing]

@lordbyronking Oh yes, both of Brahms' concerti are among the most difficult in all the piano concerto rep, and I think the second surpasses the first. But they are so wonderful!

This performance here is very, very good! I like it so much!

[lee4ivy]

i wonder, can anyone tell me whether this is a difficult concerto? i know that ALL piano concertos are hard, but on the scale of difficulty, is it just difficult, or beyond impossible to play?

[taviona]

I play the piano (as a hobby, mind you) and I've looked at some parts of the score and I believe it is pretty damn hard. I don't know that many concertos but from listening and looking at the score alone, it looks more difficult than e.g. Beethoven's 4th concerto.

[anushka1111]

just magnificent

[gerryrains]

Of the many versions that I have heard of this concerto this one comes in a very close second to my favorite: Richter, Chicago SO, Erich Leinsdorf, 1960. This has a better orchestral performance but Richter trumps Serkin - He's one of my favorites - but he's no Sviatoslav Richter,

[bagdad4]

i love you for saying that

[kempff95]

Absolutely incredible!!!!

the best version......

[dtoro74]

I really love this interpretation. Most other performers take it slower, which i'm usually for, but this concerto is better at this lively tempo. Favorite interpretation in seeking thus far.