Brahms: Piano Works Vol. 3

Rittner, Hardy

MDG 904 1680

Music from his autumn years, when Johannes Brahms no longer had to prove anything to anyone, when he could let his guard down, and simply let his inner soul dictate the music's direction regardless of form or structure. The twenty concise pieces that constitute the Fantasien Op. 116, Drei Intermezzi Op. 117, Klavierstücke Op. 118 and Klavierstücke Op. 119, are all infused with a serenity that can only manifest itself from a deep confidence in one's own knowledge. By this time, Brahms had mastered his art and most of all, had completely obliterated Beethoven's shadow with his own creative light. These late works show Brahms exploring new harmonic progressions, new motivic combinations and improvisations, and a new dissolution of rhythm at times. And like autumn itself, they reveal all the deep and vibrant colors that were once concealed beneath the outer surface of youth. • Pianist Hardy Rittner, whose mentorship includes luminaries like Pogorelich, Zimerman, Pires and Gavrilov, has once again chosen, as in hind can therefore be enjoyed as one session, in one sitting, as they should be. Collectively, they seem to form one singular larger opus anyway. The sound recording itself, as usual with this label, is devoid of any artificial manipulation, and therefore presents a true reproduction of these fine, historically important instruments. Brahms served straight up! • • Jean-Yves Duperron - July 2011

SACD x 1

MDG

5/26/11

760623168067