Search - Johannes Brahms, Claudio Abbado, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: Brahms: Double Concerto

Great music played by great soloists

Eric Schultz | Los Angeles, CA USA | 03/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music of Brahms is powerful and enchanting. Who better to play his Double Concerto Op. 102 and Piano Quartet No. 3 Op. 60 than the masters of their respective instruments? Ma, Ax, and Stern are fantastic as individual players, and dynamite when heard together on this CD. These pieces are great representatives of the period Brahms composed in. I've not heard the original recording (done in 1988 and 1990), but this one, that has been remastered, is truly musical beauty. I only hope that you have a good sound system or a good set of headphones to fully appreciate how much work was put into remaking this music to make it more beautiful than you could have originally imagined."

Superb!

Ellen D. Lanahan | Montgomery Village, MD | 12/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love classical music but know little about it. A friend lent me this CD and I listened to it at least a dozen times over the past two-weeks. I have never tired of listening to it. It is now on my Christmas wish list. All the solo performers and the orchestra under Claudio Abato are excellent. I disagree with the earlier commenter who thought little of the Piano Quartets. The final one provides one with a robust listening experience that goes well with the Double Concerto."

Stern and Ma pair up like an old, loving couple

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One rarely meets with Brahms's late Double Concerto in concert, probably because it's expensive to hire two great soloists, and they would prefer to be alone in the spotlight. But on CD wehave lots of star-studded pairings. This one from Chicago features the spring-and-autumn pairing of Ma and Stern, two eminent musicians in perfect synch and, I'm sure, bound by mutual love. In addition, the Chicago Sym. under Abbado plays with flash and conviction--I find that important in a work so emotionally ambiguous, bordering on the melancholy; the more energy the better. Sony's recorded sound is first-rate, making both solo instruments sweet, natural, and full. The overall tone of the interpreatation is extroverted and at times joyous.



The two movements from two of Brahms's Piano quartets are mere make-weights, but they are taken from excellent complete recordings. This Double Concerto can also be found with the Berg Chamber Concerto as a pairing, but that's a far more rigours work, of course, and a tough listen. Highly recomended either way."