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Although Brahms is one of our leading composers and a household name for every music lover, it still remains a challenge to find a recording of his complete works for solo piano. To hear them all performed in a concert series is an even rarer occurrence, especially in comparison with the numerous Beethoven, Schubert or Debussy cycles around the world. Yet, from Brahms’ early sonatas inspired by Schumann to his late "lullabies of my grief”, they reveal a great wealth of musical contrast reflecting many stages of his life.
My introduction to Brahms was his Ballade, Op. 10 No. 1 with which I opened my first national radio and television broadcast in Berlin. Although for many years following, my focus was particularly on Schumann as well as many other composers, Schumann inevitably brought my attention more closely back to Brahms’ piano works.
A complete Brahms cycle gives insight into every aspect of his artistry. The recordings would offer his output chronologically on five CDs. The concert performances benefit from contrasting programming as each of the four recitals includes a major work from his youthful and stormy early, masterly middle and wistful late periods.
Scherzo in E flat minor, Op. 4
Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Op. 9
Sieben Fantasien, Op. 116
Interval
Sonata No. 1 in C, Op. 1
2nd RECITAL
Vier Balladen, Op. 10
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35
Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117
Interval
Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor, Op. 2
3rd RECITAL
Zwei Rhapsodien, Op. 79
Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21 No. 1
Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118
Interval
Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
4th RECITAL
Acht Klavierstücke, Op. 76
Variations on a Hungarian Song, Op. 21 No. 2
Vier Klavierstücke, Op. 119
Interval
Variations on a Theme by Händel, Op. 24
Sonata No. 1 in C, Op. 1
Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor, Op. 2
Scherzo in E flat minor, Op. 4
2nd CD
Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Op. 9
Vier Balladen, Op. 10
3rd CD
Variations on a Original Theme, Op. 21 No. 1
Variations on a Hungarian Song, Op. 21 No. 2
Variations on a Theme by Händel, Op. 24
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35
4th CD
Acht Klavierstücke, Op. 76
Zwei Rhapsodien, Op. 79
Sieben Fantasien, Op. 116
5th CD
Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117
Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118
Vier Klavierstücke, Op. 119
Suite Fragment in A minor: Sarabande - Gavotte I & II - Gigue
Suite Fragment in B minor: Sarabande - Gigue
Klavierstück in B flat
Albumblatt in F sharp minor