András Schiff - Full conversation on Johannes Brahms's Piano Concertos | ECM Records

Sir András Schiff in conversation about the Piano Concertos of Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms: Piano Concertos
András Schiff - piano
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
ECM New Series 2690/91
Release: June 4, 2021 on 2-CDs, download and streaming: ECM.lnk.to/BrahmsPianoConcert...
“My enthusiasm for Brahms goes back to my youth, and the piano concertos are largely responsible for it,” writes Sir András Schiff in a liner note for this remarkable new recording. It finds the great pianist reassessing interpretive approaches to Brahms in the inspired company of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. To fully bring out the characteristics of Brahms’s music Schiff’s choice of instrument is a Blüthner piano built in Leipzig around 1859, the year in which the D minor concerto was premiered. The historically informed Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment plays with the flexibility, attitude, and responsiveness of a chamber music ensemble, as they work without a conductor, listening attentively to each other. András Schiff’s collaboration with the orchestra in a series of concerts was widely acclaimed: “Brahms’s First Piano Concerto was reborn thanks to the OAE’s incisive playing and András Schiff’s characterful phrasing”, The Guardian exclaimed. The musicians’ mutual wish to recapture the experience led to the present double album, recorded in London in December 2019. An extensive CD booklet includes liner notes by András Schiff and Peter Gülke in English and German.
Video recorded at Beethoven Haus in Bonn by Klangmalerei.TV
Website: www.ecmrecords.com
Facebook: / ecmrecords
Instagram: / ecm_records

[@quaver1239]

One of the great joys of my life, listening to András Schiff speak, teach and make music. Thank you so much for this. KZbin has also published it in separate episodes, but hearing/seeing the full 42 minutes is far more satisfying than just instalments. I love the way Sir András talks directly to us, simply, without pretensions, and generously giving us parts of his extraordinary depth and breadth of musical knowledge. The two CDs are magnificent, and I recommend them to music lovers everywhere.

[@ayabenkhalifa6265]

I feel very honored to listen to this.

[@drpangloss6725]

Andras Schiff is a magician and my eternal pedagogue of music! Thank you, Maestro!

[@gretareinarsson7461]

One of the interesting things about Schiff talking music, are the connections he makes between composers, periods and pieces.

[@Rombizio]

The guy is an encyclopedia of musical knowledge.

[@classicaldame4372]

Just want to echo what many have said about Andras Schiff. I've been listening to him for years and have never been disappointed. Bravo Sir Andras!

[@fazergazer]

I always learn listening to András Schiff!

[@peterwatchorn5618]

A very profound insight by a master musician of intelligence and humility.

[@MiaFeigelsonGallery]

A brilliant, didactic lecture by a magnificent pianist, one of the humblest musicians I've ever listened to. I never tire of watching Sir András Schiff's conferences let alone listening to his performances. As a great admirer of both Johannes Brahms and of Master András Schiff, I can't but thank @ECM Records for sharing this gem on KZbin !

[@adlerharry3280]

dear Professor, thanks for blowing up the ceiling that was protecting my musical ignorance, accepting this at 72 is a priceless gift... you have given me liberty and Bach... equivalent to a doctorate in enjoying life!!! Dankeschen!!

[@albertomuller212]

It is amazing Andras's tenderness when talking about Brahms's music, besides the content itself.

[@aurelbetz2172]

Bravo! Finally one of the greats spreading the beauty and truth about historical pianos! They are as valuable as Stradivaris if restored correctly. Get one while you still can and have it restored by a specialist! In the first 30 minutes, Andras Schiff points out many valuable parallels between the great composers of the period. His apparent simplicity, deep insight, and scope as one of the last great international performers make him the living legend that he is. Covid had a least one positive side. More people, even those uninitiated in classical music got to watch excellent videos like this.

[@bachopinbee5991]

Monumental! Just a moment in history that could be marked off as monumental!

[@ollehedstrom3536]

Very interesting talk from Schiff about these Brahms pieces and generally about the composer. Schiff really has the capacity to teach us about music. I will enjoy Brahms’ music even more from now on.

[@valeriocadeddumezzanotte]

One of the best records of Brahms' concerti. Maybe the best

[@marcelacorrea4947]

So grateful for your wisdom and your knowledge Sir András Schiff!

[@khann2159]

Sir Andrea's voice is music itself.

[@tahiragibson6407]

If you like soporific.

[@mlckfip]

@@tahiragibson6407 Well then, I guess I do.

[@quaver1239]

@@mlckfip : Neatly said! 😊

[@renzo6490]

His voice and expressions remind me of Peter Lorre.

[@danielmasonmusic2353]

Schiff is an absolute joy to listen to, both in his elegant playing and his spoken wisdom.

[@jerryubysz790]

These recordings are absolutely wonderful; powerful, moving, transporting, intense, beautiful. I have already enjoyed them so much. The piano and the orchestra seem to become one instrument. This talk was tremendous too, and will enrich my experience the next time I listen. Thank you all so much.

[@alastairboles4437]

Thank you, Maestro, for sharing your such very deep insight, into this wonderful music

[@saltburner2]

Sir Andras is a great teacher and a great musician - his series of lectures at Wigmore Hall on the 32 Beethoven sonatas is something I never tire of listening to.

[@RolandHuettmann]

Thank you. I already heard it three times. It is much more than a speech.

[@quaver1239]

Ronald Huettmann : Indeed it is much more than a speech. It is an entire lesson - by an exceptional musician who is more knowledgeable than most (although he denies it).

[@zinam5795]

A.Schiff is very deep Musician ,which clearly mind & clearly speaking... He'd long time experience with same "lectures" from yuang age--watch his VIDEOS ab.Schubert & other Composers from Austria ,Germany, for example

[@WoutDC]

I really hope, after hearing this great recording and talk, that he records more Brahms on a period instrument. Particularly the late piano pieces, or perhaps even the symphonies with the same wonderfull orchestra!

[@flexaeterna]

Love it. Thank you.

[@ericwilhelm2941]

I am so glad i discovered Schiff. he makes me get back into Classical music , Big Time.

[@graveurgraveur2691]

Thank you Sir!

[@bastiatintheandes4958]

What a privilege and pleasure to be guided by Maestro Sir Andras along the masterworks of god Brahms.

[@rmatienzoa]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@xenolalia]

In terms of temperament, Schiff and Brahms are a match made in heaven.

[@benharmonics]

Brahms Concerto 1 first movement 6:59 8:10 8:47 34:51 9:08 Brahms Concerto 1 second movement 12:45 13:38 14:41 Brahms Concerto 1 third movement 14:20 Beethoven Concerto 3 third movement 18:50 Beethoven Concerto 4 first movement 25:35 Beethoven Concerto 4 third movement 20:20 Beethoven Concerto 5 first movement Brahms Concerto 2 first movement 19:24 21:11 22:07 Brahms Concerto 2 second movement Brahms Concerto 2 third movement 23:47 24:36 Brahms Concerto 2 fourth movement 26:05 26:52 32:46 Brahms Intermezzo op. 116 no. 4 38:49 Schumann Concerto third movement

[@maxwagner3181]

great video!

[@paules3437]

I remember clearly my first introduction to the d-minor concerto. Thrilling, and on first hearing I just knew instinctively that there were limitless treasures to be found with further listening. I've now played thru the scores of both concertos many times (sloppily, but you know). I feel sorry for folks that don't know these pieces.

[@quaver1239]

I love your phrase, “sloppily, but you know”!! I understand exactly.

[@paules3437]

@@quaver1239 Yup. If you're a pianist of a certain level, you understand. One of my gripes about Rachmaninoff and Brahms is that their music is so fantastic but you can't really sit down and sight read it very easily so it's hard to enjoy it in the same sense as, say, reading thru a Mozart sonata.

[@limoreperetzwoloshin8860]

Excellent talk: about Brahms and about music.

[@kyleethekelt]

What a wonderfully wise and insightful presentation on all levels. Thank you to all involved. Kia ora, from Aotearoa.

[@johnschlesinger2009]

Toscanini said: "Tradition is betrayal." Not all the older pianists split the hands: Josef Hofmann and Sergei Rachmaninoff are great examples - they never did this, and Hofmann in his little book on piano playing said "It is a habit that quickly grows on one." My favourite recording of the B flat concerto is with Wilhelm Backhaus and the VPO conducted by Karl Bohm. When they were rehearsing and deciding a tempo for the first movement, Backhaus said: "It's like a stroll in the woods", while walking round the hall, to which Bohm retorted: "Do you always stroll so quickly?" Backhaus split the hands almost always throughout his very long career. He preferred the Bosendorfer piano. The Bluthner in this video has an exquisite sound. Incidentally, Alfred Cortot's recordings were made on a Pleyel, which was Chopin's preferred instrument.

[@MaGorSeven]

I found myself mesmerized through the entire video...I remember studying those two concertos as a young Orchestra conducting student and Listening to them countless times, Sir Schiff brings so much depth and wisdom that changes some of the aspects I previously perceived listening to those masterpieces...Like the religious nature of the second movement, the Gypsy band in the forth and so on, the looking back to Beethoven and those hidden connections...Absolute GEM!

[@robertlight5227]

The very essence of high art. The sweetness of civilization.

[@RobertBisha]

Beautiful! Thank you

[@robertmarcus9653]

On another occasion he was the violist in a private performance of a Brahms quartet given before the composer in Vienna. Monteux recalled Brahms's remark, "It takes the French to play my music properly. The Germans all play it much too heavily." I heard this from Erich Kunzel of Cincinnati Pops fame. ☘️🌱💐🌾🌻

[@limoreperetzwoloshin8860]

Thank you for your talk about Brahms. His D minor concerto overwhelmed me from the first time i heard it. My piano teacher tried to teach me about it. I must have listened to every possible performence i found, even the slow performence of Glenn Gould. I am writing to you to ask whether you can talk about his symphonies. I know Beethoven is THE GREATEST, but this Brahms D minor opus 15 is to me most original and new. Like you explained and i agree: Brahms is not heavy, cannot be considered heavy as people thoughts in the 60's, and 70's in Europe.. You are a wonderful teacher because you talk about music and demonstrate the beauty by examples. Like Bernstein used to do in his lectures at Harvard U. Please talk about his symphonies. Thank you.

[@carmenaballi]

Compre una entrada en Barcelona para escucharle, anuló el concierto porque se lesionó, esperé un año para ver si volvía a actuar aquí y no, qué lástima nunca le he podido escuchar en directo, estaba emocionada y me quede con las ganas… espero poder permitirme el lujo de volver a comprar una entrada.😅 a cambio hoy escucharé a la pianista Joao Pires, en el auditori.

[@robertoa.m.3984]

The first is formally an integral concerto; the second however, is dominated by the first movement which is a self contained and complete concerto in itself. Similar to Tschaikowsky's first, whose first movement could be played alone.

[@nequis195]

Never mind i found this channel the channel found this guy

[@Janaceks_Dad]

Has Schiff ever played the Paganini or Handel variations? would love to hear them if he has...

[@rayyoung7943]

He played and recorded the Handel, and it's on YT too.

[@colinpang15]

I’ve always considered the Scherzo of the 2nd Piano Concerto akin to the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s 9th symphony.

[@robertmarcus9653]

In one of your conversations you indicate that you do not like the music of Liszt. But, it was a composer that Bartók liked and dealt with very much. 💐🌱☘️🌾🌻

[@tiehanpan251]

I always enjoy Schiff's insights, but I'm wondering why he didn't put any Liszt in the comparison. Liszt Concerto No.1 also starts with a Cadenza, isn't it a closer model than Beethoven. Liszt Concerto no.2 contains 4 movements as well, although in different pacing, is worth mentioning. I'm really curious about how Schiff think of that, couldn't it be Brahms's attempt to compare with Liszt, or take it because of the effectiveness?

[@quaver1239]

Tiehan Pan : Interesting question. Schiff has little time for Liszt, actually says he doesn’t like his work, and gives good reasons. Wish I could hand you a link, but there are many references if you search through KZbin, and Google may be able to supply a link.

[@neosannyasin8022]

👍🙏

[@xtaylorxboyx]

Can somebody tell me the name of the piece he’s playing at 32:47?

[@Kris9kris]

Intermezzo in E major Op. 116 No. 4

[@ritwikghosh1]

Which piece is Schiff playing at 3 :50?

[@zottek2]

Opus 119/1 by Brahms

[@Robertbrucelockhart]

Can anyone say what is going on with the finish of this piano on top, above the keyboard? It looks like someone has been assembling a jigsaw puzzle on it.

[@virtualpoboy]

One has to remember that in those days wood veneers were not a go to. What you see is solid wood all around and they would glue up a board and pattern it foe whatever the piece became. Now of these days, craftsmanship is use whatever wood is available that is suitable for the object and either paint it with a 'plastic` coating without worring about grain pattern or veneer the piece to make it uniform. It is cost cutting without being totally 'boring' that paint can leave one with. So period instruments were from an age of artistic craftsmen who took pride in producing eye pleasing designs to accent the instrument. 20th century craftsmen are not utilized to produce such instruments cases because to pay for it would cost a fortune . The builder can step above to bland ordinary and make a bundle just because it is artistic.......sign of times that we accept high prices to get something that is extraordinary when in the past it was normal and great pride was shown in worksmanship at a normal cost ot the instrument. I am glad you noticed the case though you didn't recognise it as being a normal case for that time period. We lose as time progresses in human artistic expression because it takes more time to do it at a higher cost because economy of production is based in cheaper is better for the bottom line.......we all lose with this approach in an artistic expression....just stamp it out make the money and then stamp another one out.......... by the way, that piece you see is the ornate music rack (in today's pianos either plastic or painted wood and occasionally..gasp...veneer wood grain) laid down in its 'not used' position. Yes I believe in pride of artistic expression even if it is of a utility need.

[@quaver1239]

@@virtualpoboy : Thank you for this!

[@nmslcnmb]

Movement 4 26:05

[@chrisridenhour]

On or my favs. Brahms sent this concerto to Liszt to get his opinion. Liszt said he found the concerto ‘grey’

[@izabellamardo1074]

Darling Andras Schiffer, i love seus vídeos pena que i not sapeak inglês

[@raymondgood6555]

I just can’t understand how he can prefer the sound of this old piano to a new Steinway D.

[@ericofelix2005]

Anyone knows about the piano that he played? Looks like a vintage and rare piano. Sound quite a bit dull in comparison with modern piano

[@tobykeith9144]

Thank you so much I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my piano 🎶💕

[@ericofelix2005]

@@tobykeith9144 thank you for the reply. Of course Sir, i have your CDs in my classical collections. Love it!

[@tobykeith9144]

Thank you once again for your love towards my piano 🎶 Do you mind joining my fan group? I'm not regularly here.

[@ericofelix2005]

@@tobykeith9144yes, please Sir. I would like to know the group. What's its name? Is it on Facebook?

[@tobykeith9144]

I would like you to send me your email and I will contact you over there.

[@AaronGlenn88]

who tuned that piano?! 7:04 atrocious.

[@ZadokthePriest11]

Great lecture but honestly not a fan of this period instrument

[@themoose70]

outstanding lecture! but that piano .... yuck. why?

[@renzo6490]

Video makers must be afraid that holding one pose for more than 15 seconds will bore us. Worse than being bored is being annoyed by constant shifting of view. The appeal here is Aural , not visual. Turn on the camera, walk away and let the man speak. ___________________ OAE Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

[@MichaelLorenz]

This man is reliably making fool of himself, every time he talks about composers.

[@hellbooks3024]

How so?

[@SandWoman007]

Can't wait to hear your insights and your superior pianoforte skills on KZbin, sir.

[@adamhudock8826]

you're very wrong.

[@gauriblomeyer1835]

He is completely correct about his opinion on Wagner. He remarked once rightly to my opinion that Schubert‘s song Der Doppelgänger has more debts, more substance than anything Wagner composed.

[@mahnighorashi5684]

you must be joking. one of the most knowledgeable musicians alive today.