Brahms - 4 Ballades [Tiberghien]
Here's a clever coupling, the Ballades of Brahms and Chopin, i don't think i've seen this pairing before, and it's a logical one in a number of ways, though the point of splitting up the Chopin Ballades between the Brahms Ballades on the disc doesn't make sense, these early Brahms pieces are a treasure.
Cedric Tiberghien is French, now 36 years old, he made this recording in 2006, i like the cover photograph [photo by Eric Manas], a relaxing lazy shot, nicely judged lettering.
I really enjoyed all of these Ballades, but deep down it's the two slower introspective Ballades [2 & 4] that are the very best, and on this listen it's the Ballade No2 that just pips No4, this a warm recording, with a nice bloom on it, and in the second Ballade there's a lovely gently tolling of soft notes to start this piece [0:00+], there's the most gorgeous change in the vibe of the piece, with a double note [0:24], superb emphasis, a little later there's a degree of agitation in the music [0:52-1:07], all of which creates a lovely musical story, and in the middle we have a central forte passage [1:31-4:12], that breaks the introspection into a nice variety, with blurry and jumpy notes which work a treat [2:15-2:41], when the opening returns [4:12+], it's a superbly blessed refreshment from the anger / agitation that came before, how Brahms caresses our soul!, and a minute before the end, the coda appears [5:44+], ushering a slowing down and falling into the twilight of the piece, what a glorious creation from Brahms, beautifully interpreted by Tiberghien.
Here's Emil Gilels playing the second Ballade on YouTube.
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