Johannes Brahms - Isabelle & Florence Lafitte , Olivier Vernet & Cédric Meckler

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"  It took Brahms four years to compose his first piano concerto: he started it as a symphony, rewrote it into a sonata for two pianos, and finalized it as a piano concerto. According to its genesis Brahms' friend Theodor Kirchner produced a transcription for two piano duets. From his second piano concerto not only Brahms himself made a version for four hands on two pianos, also Paul F. Juon transcribed this op.83 for eight hands on two pianos. The four interpreters of this gorgeous CD have analyzed both versions and edited the transcriptions - based on the original - reconstituting structures, adding melodic lines. The duo Lafitte plays four hand piano, Olivier Vernet and Cédric Meckler play the two organs of the cathedral in Angers - the result is amazing and more than worth hearing. The voluminous tonal disposition of the first concerto in particular by the sound of the organ is extremely adequate, but remains so transparent, that it never covers the piano part. On the contrary: the multifaceted layers of sound are brought out particularly well by this distribution to piano and organ. It sounds not only novelly, but even "brahmsian". Indeed one believes: just like that Brahms would have imagined the octaves and the sumptuous chords in the reprise of his op.15. So far away from the original and yet so authentic in its sound. An elaborate recording, hardly to surpass in creative power.  "

Isabel Fedrizzi

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