Brahms / Bruno-Leonardo Gelber, 1966: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 - Complete

In this 1966 recording (winner of the 1966 Grand Prix Du Disque), Argentine pianist Bruno-Leonardo Gelber (1941) performs the Brahms Piano Concerto in D minor, Op. 15. Franz Paul Decker (1923) leads the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. This recording -- made when Gelber was 25 years old -- was distributed on cassette tape in 1976 on the Connisseur Society label, serial number CS 2102. With the exception of those of Brahms (which show him when he was about 25 or 26 years old) and the fragments from the orchestral score, as well as the 1966 magazine story (at 36:25) on the Grand Prix Du Disque for this LP, all images used to create this video came from the cassette (5:18, 36:15) and the cassette cover (5:08). This video concludes with an image of Brahms' grave at the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna (47:45).

Movement 1: Maestoso
Movement 2: Adagio (21:53)
Movement 3: Rondo (allegro non troppo) (36:02)

Earlier this year I uploaded this performance in 7 segments. The relaxation by YouTube of its time constraints now permits me to present this remarkable performance in its entirety.


More from Brahms:

Wilhelm Backhaus / Karl Böhm, VPO, 1953: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 - Complete - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLeA3linKSA

Brahms / Leon Fleisher, 1962: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 - Rondo - George Szell - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAU8CCyIv7E

Brahms / Alfred Brendel, 1973: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 - Rondo (Vinyl LP) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1-Pd9io6lI

Brahms / Herbert von Karajan, 1957: Variations On A Theme By Haydn, Op. 56a - Complete - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2VeNiKpY0s

Brahms / Sviatoslav Richter, Borodin Quartet, 1958: Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 - Complete - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGQIofBDnbY

Johannes Brahms / Isaac Stern, 1952: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 - Movement 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Prp2onuFQ

Brahms / Isaac Stern / Leonard Rose, 1956: Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 (Allegro) - Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vREWf7nxSM

David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, D minor Violin Sonata, Op. 108 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge_nUBmPnGk

Tatiana Grindenko: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sNvF_fSJS8

Alfons und Aloys Kontarsky: Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D flat major - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N16nQCpu3o

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Brahms
• Bruno-Leonardo Gelber
• Piano Concerto in D minor
• Op. 15
• יוהנס ברהמס
• Johannes Brahms
• Бруна Леанарда Гелбер
• Фортепианный концерт ре минор
• Grand Prix Du Disque
• Иоганнес Брамс
• Munich Philharmoinic Orchestra
• Бруно Леонардо Гелбер
• Franz Paul Decker
• برونو ، ليوناردو جيلبر
• Connoisseur Society
• E. Alan Silver
• davidhertzberg
• classicvinylbiz

[JamesBigBangUK]

This is my first time hearing this and i have to say... bloody hell! I don't think i have ever heard anything quite so extraordinary. An beautifull, exquisite piece. Thank you.

[davidhertzberg]

@JamesBigBangUK Thanks for writing; there are many good recordings of this monumental work, but this one is quite unique, the one I compare all others to. best, david

[willistara]

I love this - Call it soul, call it the absolute, this is an experience right into the Divine realm. Thanks, David.

[davidhertzberg]

@willistara Well put.  best, david

[shemiska]

What a great composition; one that moves the inner being and provides a grand measure of solace and peace. It makes stress disappear; replacing it with contentment and relaxation. What an opportunity to spend an hour in quiet reflection.

[davidhertzberg]

@shemiska THanks for your comment, I agree. david

[Eichenwald144]

What a glorious performance by the young Gelber! I listened to this (and the 2nd) back in the 70s with some of my fellow students and we were absolutely bowled over by them. There's no change now, 33 years later. Pity the orchestra is so tenth-rate. Whoever paired them up? Still, for piano playing of this calibre I can put with just about anything. Thanks so much for posting!

[classicalalways]

The most passionate performance of one of the greatest concertos ever written. Gelber's big, rich sound coupled with his sensitive playing is simply incredible. From the slightest of pianissimo to the most thrilling of fortissimo, Gelber takes the listener onto an incredibly journey. At his best like this, Gelber played at the highest level - and should have been considered one of the absolute top pianists of his day.

[davidhertzberg]

@SonoftheLion1 Thanks for writing, david

[barrtok]

thank you!