Johannes Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 (Clifford Curzon)

Information

Composer: Johannes Brahms; César Franck; Henry Litolff

1. Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15: 1. Maestoso - Poco più moderato
2. Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15: 2. Adagio
3. Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro non troppo
4. Franck - Symphonic Variations, for piano & orchestra, M. 46
5. Litolff - Concerto Symphonique No. 4 in D minor, Op. 102: Scherzo

Clifford Curzon, piano
London Symphony Orchestra
George Szell, conductor (1-3)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Adrian Boult, conductor (4, 5)

Date: 1955 (4), 1958 (5), 1962 (1-3)
Label: Decca
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4663762

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

George Szell owned the Brahms concerto. He recorded it three times in stereo, with Leon Fleischer, Rudolph Serkin, and in this version with Clifford Curzon. By general consensus the Fleischer recording is the finest, and it’s available in a newly remastered release from Sony Masterworks Heritage. Despite Szell’s best efforts, the London Symphony was no Cleveland Orchestra, though he does have them playing at the top of their early 1960s form. Curzon’s performance of the solo part always has been admired for its naturalness, nobility of utterance, and discipline, and this remains not just one of his finest recordings, but certainly one of the outstanding versions of the concerto. Decca’s remastered sound seems to focus on the piano at the expense of the orchestra, which sounds a might shrill in this transfer–but this is a minor defect at best. The two fillers are charming, and make a welcome bonus.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/Feb08/Brahms_pc1_ArkivCD_4176412.htm
http://www.classical.net/~music/recs/reviews/l/lon66376a.php
http://www.amazon.com/Brahms-Concerto-Symphonic-Variations-Symphonique/dp/B00000JXZ6

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Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer and pianist. In his lifetime, Brahms's popularity and influence were considerable. Brahms composed for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, piano, organ, and voice and chorus. Many of his works have become staples of the modern concert repertoire. An uncompromising perfectionist, Brahms destroyed some of his works and left others unpublished. Brahms is often considered both a traditionalist and an innovator. His music is firmly rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of the Classical masters, with a highly romantic nature embedded within.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Brahms

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Clifford Curzon (18 May 1907 – 1 September 1982) was an English classical pianist. Curzon studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and subsequently with Artur Schnabel, Wanda Landowska and Nadia Boulanger. In his early career he was known for his performances of Romantic and virtuoso music, and for championing modern works. Later he concentrated on composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. Although signed to Decca, for most of his career, Curzon was not at ease in the studio, and vetoed the release of many of his recordings, some of which were published after his death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Curzon

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