Brahms, Johannes - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Buchbinder, Rudolf

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Rudolf Buchbinder, piano

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta, conductor

Rudolf Buchbinder and Zubin Mehta are in perfect unison in both concertos. Buchbinder' playing is both bold and well-articulated, dramatic yet sensitive to sound and balance. Maestro Mehta leads the IPO with carefully detailed textures and chosen tempos - spacious in the outer movements, but with tension to spare, and relatively fast in the central movements, thereby avoiding excessive sentimentality and the risk of boredom. The B flat Concerto is especially exciting: the Scherzo offers energy without brutality, while the Andante refuses to surrender to sentimentality, thanks to a comparatively brisk tempo and to the dignified sound of the solo cello, played here by Micha Haran. In the final Allegretto grazioso, Buchbinder manages to transform his tone into something lighter and more ingratiating.