Here is one for all you Brahmsians out there , A young Frenchman who has just won the Queen Elisabeth Prize in Belgium and other prestigious awards. His name is Johnathan Fournel and I predict he is going to be a big hit. He plays Brahms Piano Sonata No 3 in F Minor and his Handel Variations and What a delight it is.
The Sonata is a delight in virtuousity with Fortissimo chords at the start and watch your speakers as this recording takes no prisoners. The second movement which is an open secret of unrequited love to Clara Schumann which he does take rather literally but the playing is an utter delight. The other piece is a favourite of mine The Handel Variations which show just how good Brahms was as a young man if he could spawn these but unfortunately as he got older he was very lapse at keeping his technique in shape. Anyway Fournel is very adept at these with not too fast speeds taken to let the music breath. But he can take things at a fair lick when he feels like it. All in all a very good first recording and the first of many. It is streaming on Qobuz just now .
The Sonata is a delight in virtuousity with Fortissimo chords at the start and watch your speakers as this recording takes no prisoners. The second movement which is an open secret of unrequited love to Clara Schumann which he does take rather literally but the playing is an utter delight. The other piece is a favourite of mine The Handel Variations which show just how good Brahms was as a young man if he could spawn these but unfortunately as he got older he was very lapse at keeping his technique in shape. Anyway Fournel is very adept at these with not too fast speeds taken to let the music breath. But he can take things at a fair lick when he feels like it. All in all a very good first recording and the first of many. It is streaming on Qobuz just now .