Brahms Piano Concerto #2, RFH, Grimaud, 23 Jan 14
Sunday, February 2nd, 2014 08:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tamaranthI'd been waiting for the second of Helene Grimaud's renditions of Brahms Piano Concertos since hearing her play Concerto #1 last summer. I wasn't disappointed. She has a combination of delicacy and brute strength that is exactly right for Brahms.
Also noticed in this performance just how hard the brass (and woodwind) are working in the background, underpinning the whole concerto.
I have to confess I'm not as keen on the finale of Concerto #2 as the finale of #1 -- it's a bit too rollicking (think 'Academic Overture'. which I am also not keen on) and doesn't have the triumphant ambience of the first concerto: plus the ending is shockingly abrupt. But the rest of it -- the peals like bells in 2nd movement, the cello solo in 3rd -- is marvellous, and Grimaud's playing elevates it further.
Skipped the second half as I still haven't really connected with Brahms' symphonies, and needed an early(ish) night.
Also noticed in this performance just how hard the brass (and woodwind) are working in the background, underpinning the whole concerto.
I have to confess I'm not as keen on the finale of Concerto #2 as the finale of #1 -- it's a bit too rollicking (think 'Academic Overture'. which I am also not keen on) and doesn't have the triumphant ambience of the first concerto: plus the ending is shockingly abrupt. But the rest of it -- the peals like bells in 2nd movement, the cello solo in 3rd -- is marvellous, and Grimaud's playing elevates it further.
Skipped the second half as I still haven't really connected with Brahms' symphonies, and needed an early(ish) night.
