Brazilian Pianist Nelson Freire interprets Johannes Brahms' hyper-romantic Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor with the NHK Symphony. Freire used to be a top-notch pianist, frequently teaming up with the indefatigable Martha Argerich for piano duo recitals. I still have a DVD copy of their Rachmaninoff and Ravel recording for two pianos. Maybe old age has indeed caught up with him. His rendition is slower than what I am used to, even phlegmatic at times, and I miss the fire and the devil-may-care virtousity characteristic of his earlier years. But I still like his musicality. He kept a tight lid on sentimentality and made it sound lyrical, not so much romantic, unlike most pianists when they try to interpret Brahms.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
What I like about this concerto is that the orchestra plays not just a supporting role to the soloist but is seamlessly woven into the whole fabric of the concerto. It holds its own, especially in the first movement.
Typical of Brahms, the first movement is grandiloquent and majestic, with passionate passages immediately unleashed after a few introductory bars. Followed by a light, dreamy and tender adagio second movement. It feels like you're sitting under a tree during breezy summer afternoons, idly waiting for nothing. The final movement jolts the listener out of reverie with fiery outbursts in staccato octaves for a truly electrifying close.
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