Kempff plays Brahms

Brahms composed his Six Pieces for Piano in 1893 and they are dedicated to Clara Schumann.  This was Brahms’ penultimate work for piano.  The two works played here are No 5 and 6 in the series.

Brahms’ three piano sonatas are all youthful works and the F minor one, the last one, was written 1853, when Brahms was barely 20 years old.  Brahms presented it to Robert Schumann for his comments. The piece is dedicated to Countess Ida von Hohenthal of Leipzig.It is technically one of the most demanding works in the classical piano repertoire and combines a highly romantic spirit within strict classical architecture.

Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)

Track 1: Opening announcement

Track 2: Romanze in F, Op 118 No 5

Track 3: Intermezzo in E flat minor, Op 118 No 6

Track 4: Sonata in F minor, Op 5

1. Allegro maestoso.
2. Andante. Andante espressivo — Andante molto
3. Scherzo. Allegro energico avec trio
4. Intermezzo. (Rückblick / Regard en arrière) Andante molto
5. Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato

This recording was made from a relay of a concert given in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London in November 1969.

The recording is from the Saul Collection at Music Preserved.