The three sets of late piano works by Brahms were written in the early 1890s, after he had announced his retirement. They are fascinating works, not so much death-haunted as nostalgic, with bits of emotions floating across a remembered field of memory. The American pianist Garrick Ohlsson, a giant both artistically and physically (he is six feet, four inches tall) might not be the first pianist you would pick for these, but as it happens, he is ideal. They have an endlessly absorbing balance between improvisatory fantasy ...
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The three sets of late piano works by Brahms were written in the early 1890s, after he had announced his retirement. They are fascinating works, not so much death-haunted as nostalgic, with bits of emotions floating across a remembered field of memory. The American pianist Garrick Ohlsson, a giant both artistically and physically (he is six feet, four inches tall) might not be the first pianist you would pick for these, but as it happens, he is ideal. They have an endlessly absorbing balance between improvisatory fantasy and dense motivic connection, and it will give endless pleasure to ponder what Brahms meant by calling the Op. 116 set Fantasias : none of the individual pieces bear that label. Ohlsson catches this balance beautifully and he has an uncanny feeling for the strangely shifting moods of these pieces. Sample the Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 118, No. 2, probably the best known of the works on the album, for an idea of how you'll take to Ohlsson's approach; there are as many ways to play...
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Ex-Library rental. Disc(s) are professionally cleaned and may contain only light scratches that do not effect functionality. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. May be missing booklet. Disc(s), case, and artwork may contain library/security stickers and ink writing. ARTWORK IS UNORIGINAL AND PRINTED BY LIBRARY. Case and artwork may show some wear. Case may not be an original jewel case. All disc(s) are authentic.
