The First Concerto of the 26-year-old Brahms had a curious gestation: begun as a symphony (his actual First Symphony was premiered only 27 years later!), originally scored for two pianos through lack of orchestral experience, it turned into a concerto for just one piano while also providing material for other works (the German Requiem)! Implicitly dedicated to Schumann, the piece initially had difficulty establishing itself in the repertoire before achieving recognition as one of the models of the genre – like the celebrated ‘Haydn’ Variations.
JOHANNES BRAHMS [1833-1897] Concerto pour piano et orchestre n°1 en ré mineur / D minor / d-moll op.15 · I. Maestoso (23'52) · II. Adagio (14'11) · III. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo (12'43) Variationen op.56a über ein Thema von Haydn · Thème : Chorale St. Antoni. Andante (2'11) · Variation I. Poco più animato (1'19) · Variation II. Più vivace (1'18) · Variation III. Con moto (1'50) · Variation IV. Andante con moto (1'55) · Variation V. Vivace (0'56) · Variation VI. Vivace (1'19) · Variation VII. Grazioso (3'05) · Variation VIII. Presto non troppo (1'03) · Finale. Andante (3'41)
