Varda, , here is a precious gem: the 1972 recording of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto in B-flat major by pianist Emil Gilels with Eugen Jochum and the Berlin Philharmonic. This is the slow movement, the Andante. Critics commonly agree that this is about the best recording there is of it. It’s in modified A-B-A form. The Main theme is stated by the cello in the first part of the theme, and by strings and woods in the second before being varied by the piano in the two very loose variations that follow. But the heart of the piece is the middle theme, a peaceful, dreamy, other worldly fantasia—one of the most beautiful episodes in all of the piano concerto literature, rivaling the minuet episode in the Rondo of Mozart’s E-flat major concerto. The first half of the twelve-bar phrase is a piano-clarinet duet (7:29—8:36) while the second half is a piano solo, accompanied by the strings (8:36—9:44). Widely spaced left hand arpeggios accompany the melody. A seven-bar preparation for the return of Section A (9:44) begins in F# major with the first five bars of the cello solo before finally modulating back to the home key, B flat major (10:38). Donald Francis Tovey, one of the greatest musicologists who ever lived, wrote of the middle section: “The pianoforte is accompanied by two clarinets. The melody consists of a few notes spaced out like the first stars that penetrate the sky at sunset. When the strings join in, the calm is as deep as the ocean.” Gilels was a titan of the piano. His recordings of Beethoven’s sonatas—particularly the last ones, are rivaled only by that of Artur Schnabel. His recordings of the “Pathetique,” the “Moonlight” and “Appassionata” have just the right dash of tenderness and muscularity. His versions of No. 29, 30, and 31 silence criticism. They are perfect. My great regret is that he died just before he was to record Beethoven’s last, no. 32 in C-minor. Anyway, he gives a warm, tender and searching reading of the Andante, and Jochum and the BPO are sympathetic accompanists. Been listening to this all afternoon! Enjoy! (0—1:02) Main theme (A), part one, by cello in B-flat, stated and restated (1:01—1:39) Theme repeated by orchestra (1:39—2:43) Main theme, part two, by strings and woodwinds (2:43—4:24) 1st Variation on Main theme by piano (4:24—6:48) 2nd variation in d-minor (molto agitato) (6:48—7:29) (transition passage to middle theme) (7:29—9:44) Middle theme (B) in f-sharp minor (piu adagio) (9:44—10:38) Return of Main (A) theme, part one by cello, piano (10:38—11:12) Main theme, pt.one restated (11:12—12:37) Main theme, part two by piano and strings (12:37—14:12) Coda based on Middle theme https://youtube/watch?v=0KQSF2V7vh0
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 00:23:40 +0000
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