SearchsearchUseruser

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 - Ugorskaja, Gülke

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 - Ugorskaja, Gülke

MDG Scene  901 2118-6

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1, Intermezzi, Op. 117

Dina Ugorskaja (piano)
Brandenburger Symphoniker
Peter Gülke (conductor)


Elusive Essence
Much has been written about the compositional history of the Piano Concerto in D minor by Johannes Brahms: how the composer initially planned a sonata for two pianos and then a symphony; how Beethoven’s overwhelming legacy inhibited him; how the young composer also as a pianist ended up delighting his audiences in Hanover but unsettling them in Leipzig. Dina Ugorskaja, performing with the Brandenburg
Symphony under the conductor and Siemens Prize recipient Peter Gülke, is now presenting this work in its essence: a magnificent contribution to the music literature that even 160 years after its premiere continues to be filled with enigmas and marvels.

Titanic Struggle
The titanic initial theme comes out looking for a fight. Beginning with mighty drum rolls, it seems to rise up in revolt against the musicians, who have to summon all their energies to tame it. Descending trill chains flutter over the chromatic bass, and the fact that the piano is first entrusted with this theme in the recapitulation has its reasons – pianists rightly fear its octave trills!

Towering Summit
With Dina Ugorskaja, however, they are in the best hands. It is with bravura that this highly sought-after With Dina Ugorskaja, however, they are in the best hands. It is with bravura that this highly sought-after pianist masters the rocky heights of this gigantic work and engages in genuinely “concerted” competition with the orchestra. Peter Gülke also contributes his share here; hardly any other conductor has at his command such a profound knowledge of the work and its author, and he convincingly puts this expertise to use with his Brandenburg Symphony.

Personal Presence
As an encore, Dina Ugorskaja offers a highly poetic rendering of the three Intermezzi from Brahms’s Op. 117, a work from his late period. This very personal interpretation moves listeners with its flexible tempo and an enormous spectrum of tone colors. Lovingly produced and recorded in the best 2+2+2 technique in three dimensions on our Super Audio CD, this ambitious program featuring these so very different works is an enriching addition to every record collection.

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

bol.com
 
jpc
Presto

 

Add to your wish list | library

 

3 of 3 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Comments (1)
show
hide

Comment by Adrian Quanjer - April 16, 2019 (1 of 1)

At last. A new release of Brahms’ Piano Concerto # 1. Who knows the Brandenburger Symphoniker? I found this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW8dGwa2zRw