Brahms - Handel Variations [Arrau]This comes from a 3 disc box set, handsomely presented, the works certainly aren't of equal value, and instead of the two Piano Sonatas, it would have been better to have the shorter Piano Pieces Op116-119 instead, but it's still great to hear Arrau, , i listened to this just over a year ago [3rd October 2010], i still marvel at the ingenuity of Brahms creating a work teeming with an almost endless supply of ideas, and even though i find Arrau a bit heavy handed at times, and maybe in a few variations a bit slow, there's insights aplenty, this was a wonderful experience.
Claudio Arrau was born in Chile in 1903, and died in 1991, he recorded this work in 1978, the front cover shows Arrau in a reflective mood [photo by Christian Steiner], a background of sheet music, and nice lettering in green.
I enjoyed so much variations 1, 5-7, 22 & 25, the early variations 5-7 come together in a clump, and each variations adds to the one before, highlighting and complementing each other, and this was an especially nice little phase, here are these variations explained in more detail,
Variation 1 [1:19-2:17], right after the slow theme, it's wonderful to hear the faster first variation explode into life, with jagged and staccato notes, and inbetween quick little runs, a breath of fresh air.
Variation 5 [4:48-6:03], a subdued and serious variation, Arrau has a tendency to sniff all over the place, but i like his rubato as it quickens and slows in waves.
Variation 6 [6:03-7:13], another quiet variation, this time there's a whiff of a funeral march about it, it's certainly solemn and dark, those bass notes are so nice to hear, again Arrau just plays with the rubato to give it some elasticity, he's great at judging those things.
Variation 7 [7:14-7:51], and in contrast a more lively variation, again a piece full of staccato, it gets more and more frantic towards the end.
Variation 22 [20:48-21:50], i find this variations so very coda-esque, as if it's a culmination of things, lovely high in the treble, i love the ringing notes it creates, and the gentle background the left hand gives from the middle of the keyboard.
Variation 25 [22:54-23:33], a real explosion of pent up feeling, a tremendous joy and enthusiasm in attack from Arrau, a great ending to the variation part of the work, and probably on this listen this was my favourite variation this time.
Here's variations 22 to the end being played on YouTube, i don't know who the Pianist is, variation 25 starts at [1:59], look at his hand jumping up and down all over the place, a real virtuoso variation, a joy to watch.
Variation 1 [1:19-2:17], right after the slow theme, it's wonderful to hear the faster first variation explode into life, with jagged and staccato notes, and inbetween quick little runs, a breath of fresh air.
Variation 5 [4:48-6:03], a subdued and serious variation, Arrau has a tendency to sniff all over the place, but i like his rubato as it quickens and slows in waves.
Variation 6 [6:03-7:13], another quiet variation, this time there's a whiff of a funeral march about it, it's certainly solemn and dark, those bass notes are so nice to hear, again Arrau just plays with the rubato to give it some elasticity, he's great at judging those things.
Variation 7 [7:14-7:51], and in contrast a more lively variation, again a piece full of staccato, it gets more and more frantic towards the end.
Variation 22 [20:48-21:50], i find this variations so very coda-esque, as if it's a culmination of things, lovely high in the treble, i love the ringing notes it creates, and the gentle background the left hand gives from the middle of the keyboard.
Variation 25 [22:54-23:33], a real explosion of pent up feeling, a tremendous joy and enthusiasm in attack from Arrau, a great ending to the variation part of the work, and probably on this listen this was my favourite variation this time.
