Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2 (Music & Arts)

Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2

Music & Arts: CD-1077(1)

Johannes Brahms
1-4. Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat major, Op.83
Vladimir Horowitz, piano/Arturo Toscanini, conductor/NBC Symphony Orchestra

Johannes Brahms
5-8: Symphony No.3 in F major, Op.90
Arturo Toscanini/NBC Symphony Orchestra

Top Drawer Brahms from Toscanini & Horowitz

It's heartening to see the considerable number of historical recordings continuing to surface during this digital age.

Horowitz and Toscanini had many divergent views on music and performance. Truth be told, if Horowitz hadn't been Toscanini's son-in-law, they probably would not have performed together as often as they did. The Italian Maestro was a notoriously inflexible accompanist, which probably accounts for the small amount of repeat business he received from top soloists. However, for all their musical disagreements, Horowitz and Toscanini were united in their desire to strip from Brahms the flabby, muddy performance style which has been fashionable in some circles. Both the Concerto and Symphony on the CD feature dazzling clarity of execution, where harmonic strands are transparent.

This performance of the concerto, recorded in 1948, has been issued several times on CD, starting in the late 1980s. The sonics in this new remastering are far superior to the earlier issue on Stadivarius, which had many distracting skips, bumps and was poorly balanced. The sound here is smoother, with deeper bass, less shrill treble, and greater dynamic impact, although the piano is overbalanced. Perhaps the sound increases the impression that Horowitz seems more assertive here than in the earlier version, where he was largely content to march to the beat of Toscanini's drum. Tempos are mostly the same here, except in the Andante, which seems somewhat rushed. Horowitz was no great fan of this concerto, but many of the best aspects of his playing are heard here--the clarity, the rhythmic drive, the powerful left hand--all these make this a Brahms Second to be reckoned with. Only one regret here: by 1948, NBC had begun showing a few of Toscanini's concerts on television. How ! sad they never saw fit to televise this one--it would have been priceless.

The Third Symphony is also a glorious performance. Again, the clarity, both harmonic and structural are the antithesis of the German approach to Brahms. Toscanini takes the repeat in the first movement, but for once it doesn't seem redundant. The flowing Andante is followed by a yearning third movement. Toscanini articulates the tricky syncopation of the Finale in a way few other conductors could. The 1946 recording is understandably restricted dynamically, but reasonably warm and naturally balanced.

Brahms, Toscanini and Horowitz fans would do well to snap this item up ASAP.

© Hank Drake

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