Brahms - Piano Concerto 1 [Donohoe/ Svetlanov-The Philharmonia]
Brahms,s original old warhorse, dubbed by some as 'the Symphony for piano and orchestra', and this work showed the world his credentials, a major orchestral statement, in the minor [D Minor, my favourite key], i've played this so much [mainly Brendel], but i still find something new and wonderful each time.
Peter Donohoe is English, now 58 years old, he recorded this work in 1989, the booklet front cover is wonderfully creative and inventive, a silhouette [by Tobi Corney], with a green hue over everything, the lettering nicely over the dark piano.
The first movement is phenomenal, it has this agitated darkness, full of trauma, even anger, the opening orchestral introduction uses a timpani flourish, and violins that sound anguished [0:00-0:57], but it quiets down into a string bleakness [0:57-1:44], but the orchestra erupts again as at the start [2:31-3:36], this time there's even more ferocity, and especially the violins are really on their toes [3:03-3:25], so it takes three and a half minutes before the piano comes in, just goes to show what a mammoth movement it is [nearly 22 minutes here], and you can certainly hear the beginnings of a Symphony in this orchestral introduction, but Brahms wasn't ready just yet,
Here's Leon Fleisher playing the first movement on YouTube.
