Brahms: 3 Piano Sonatas (Zimerman)

The 𝗣𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭 in C major, Op. 1, of Johannes Brahms was written in Hamburg in 1853, and published later that year. Despite being his first published work, he had actually composed his Piano Sonata No. 2 first, but chose this work to be his first published opus because he felt that it was of higher quality. The piece was sent along with his second sonata to Breitkopf & Härtel with a letter of recommendation from Robert Schumann. Schumann had already praised Brahms enthusiastically, and the sonata shows signs of an effort to impress in its symphonic grandeur, technical demands, and dramatic character. It was dedicated to Joseph Joachim.

0:00 - Mvt I Allegro

11:01 - Mvt II Andante (nach einem altdeutschen Minneliede)

16:59 - Mvt III Allegro molto e con fuoco — Più mosso

22:39 - Mvt IV Allegro con fuoco — Presto non troppo ed agitato

The 𝗣𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮 in F♯ minor, Op. 2 of Johannes Brahms was written in Hamburg, Germany in 1852, and published the year after. Despite being his second published work, it was actually composed before his Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, but was published later because Brahms recognized the importance of an inaugural publication and felt that the C major sonata was of higher quality. It was sent along with his first sonata to Breitkopf und Härtel with a letter of recommendation from Robert Schumann. Schumann had already praised Brahms enthusiastically, and the sonata shows signs of an effort to impress, with its technical demands and highly dramatic nature. It was dedicated to Clara Schumann.

29:25 - Mvt I Allegro non troppo, ma energico

35:31 - Mvt II Andante con espressione

41:50 - Mvt III Scherzo: Allegro — Poco più moderato

46:21 - Mvt IV Finale: Sostenuto — Allegro non troppo e rubato — Molto sostenuto

The 𝗣𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗡𝗼. 𝟯 in F minor, Op. 5 of Johannes Brahms was written in 1853 and published the following year. The sonata is unusually large, consisting of five movements, as opposed to the traditional three or four. When he wrote this piano sonata, the genre was seen by many to be past its heyday. Brahms, enamored of Beethoven and the classical style, composed Piano Sonata No. 3 with a masterful combination of free Romantic spirit and strict classical architecture. As a further testament to Brahms' affinity for Beethoven, the Piano Sonata is infused with the instantly recognizable motive from Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 during the first, third, and fourth movements. The piece is dedicated to Countess Ida von Hohenthal of Leipzig.

58:34 - Mvt I Allegro maestoso

1:09:15 - Mvt II Andante. Andante espressivo — Andante molto

1:22:00 - Mvt III Scherzo. Allegro energico avec trio

1:27:11 - Mvt IV Intermezzo (Rückblick / Regard en arrière) Andante molto

1:31:37 - Mvt V Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato

Performer: Krystian Zimerman, 1982 Deutsche Grammophon