Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

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The American pianist Julius Katchen made his name in the early 1950s and died in 1969, but although he's generally though of as a distinguished figure from the last generation, it's salutary... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: 4552472
Label: Decca
Series: Collectors Edition
Length: 6 hours 24 minutes

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Brahms: Variations on a theme by Paganini in A minor, Op. 35

Work length20:18

$1.70

$2.30

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1965-09-01
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Book 1

Track length11:25

$0.85

$1.15

Book 2

Track length8:53

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24

Work length26:27

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-06-28
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Brahms: Ballades (4), Op. 10

Work length20:04

$3.40

$4.60

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-01-17
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

No.1 in D Minor

Track length4:55

$0.85

$1.15

No.2 in D Major

Track length5:47

$0.85

$1.15

No.3 in B Minor

Track length3:47

$0.85

$1.15

No.4 in B Major

Track length5:35

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Schumann in F sharp minor, Op. 9

Work length19:27

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-10-08
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Brahms: Variations on an Original Theme in D major, Op. 21, No. 1

Work length16:41

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-04-23
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Brahms: Variations on a Hungarian Song in D major, Op. 21 No. 2

Work length5:58

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-04-23
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Excerpt, Brahms: Waltzes (16), Op. 39

Work length17:21

$1.70

$2.30

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-04-30
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Nos.1-8

Track length9:22

$0.85

$1.15

Nos.9-16

Track length7:59

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Scherzo in E flat minor, Op. 4

Work length8:29

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-10-01
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1

Work length25:10

$3.40

$4.60

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1963-09-30
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Allegro

Track length8:03

$0.85

$1.15

2. Andante

Track length5:40

$0.85

$1.15

3. Scherzo (Allegro molto e con fuoco)

Track length5:19

$0.85

$1.15

4. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)

Track length6:08

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor, Op. 2

Work length26:30

$3.40

$4.60

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1963-09-16
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Allegro non troppo, ma energico

Track length5:28

$0.85

$1.15

2. Andante con espressione

Track length6:00

$0.85

$1.15

3. Scherzo. Allegro

Track length3:53

$0.85

$1.15

4. Finale (Introduzione. Sostenuto - Allegro non troppo e rubato)

Track length11:09

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Rhapsody in B minor, Op. 79 No. 1

Work length9:20

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-01-17
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Brahms: Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79 No. 2

Work length5:58

$0.85

$1.15

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-01-17
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5

Work length38:05

$4.25

$5.75

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1964-10-01
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Allegro maestoso

Track length10:42

$0.85

$1.15

2. Andante espressivo

Track length12:16

$0.85

$1.15

3. Scherzo (Allegro energico)

Track length4:40

$0.85

$1.15

4. Intermezzo (Andante molto)

Track length3:26

$0.85

$1.15

5. Finale (Allegro moderato ma rubato)

Track length7:01

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Fantasies (7 piano pieces), Op. 116

Work length22:53

$5.95

$8.05

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-04-30
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Capriccio in D Minor

Track length1:59

$0.85

$1.15

2. Intermezzo in A Minor

Track length3:48

$0.85

$1.15

3. Capriccio in G Minor

Track length2:37

$0.85

$1.15

4. Intermezzo in E Major

Track length4:20

$0.85

$1.15

5. Intermezzo in E Minor

Track length3:29

$0.85

$1.15

6. Intermezzo in E Major

Track length4:05

$0.85

$1.15

7. Capriccio in D Minor

Track length2:35

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Klavierstücke (8), Op. 76

Work length24:28

$6.80

$9.20

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-04-30
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Capriccio in F Sharp Minor

Track length3:37

$0.85

$1.15

2. Capriccio in B Minor

Track length3:17

$0.85

$1.15

3. Intermezzo in A Flat Major

Track length2:20

$0.85

$1.15

4. Intermezzo in B Flat Major

Track length2:17

$0.85

$1.15

5. Capriccio in C Sharp Minor

Track length3:09

$0.85

$1.15

6. Intermezzo in A Major

Track length3:50

$0.85

$1.15

7. Intermezzo in A Minor

Track length2:30

$0.85

$1.15

8. Capriccio in C Major

Track length3:28

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Klavierstücke (6), Op. 118

Work length22:32

$5.10

$6.90

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-06-13
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Intermezzo in A Minor

Track length1:51

$0.85

$1.15

2. Intermezzo in A Major

Track length6:03

$0.85

$1.15

3. Ballade in G Minor

Track length3:03

$0.85

$1.15

4. Intermezzo in F Minor

Track length2:32

$0.85

$1.15

5. Romance in F Major

Track length4:09

$0.85

$1.15

6. Intermezzo in E Flat Minor

Track length4:54

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Klavierstücke (4), Op. 119

Work length13:54

$3.40

$4.60

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-06-13
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. Intermezzo in B Minor

Track length2:51

$0.85

$1.15

2. Intermezzo in E Minor

Track length4:38

$0.85

$1.15

3. Intermezzo in C Major

Track length1:26

$0.85

$1.15

4. Rhapsody in E Flat Major

Track length4:59

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Intermezzi (3), Op. 117

Work length15:10

$2.55

$3.45

Julius Katchen (piano)
Recorded: 1962-06-13
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

1. in E Flat Major

Track length5:14

$0.85

$1.15

2. in B Flat Minor

Track length4:33

$0.85

$1.15

3. in C Sharp Minor

Track length5:23

$0.85

$1.15

Brahms: Hungarian Dances

Work length46:07

$17.85

$24.15

Julius Katchen (piano), Jean-Pierre Marty (piano)
Recorded: 1964-10-12
Recording Venue: Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London

Hungarian Dance No.1 in G Minor

Track length2:51

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.2 in D Minor

Track length3:05

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.3 in F Major

Track length2:18

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.4 in F Sharp Minor

Track length4:14

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.5 in G Minor

Track length2:10

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.6 in D Flat Major

Track length3:08

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.7 in A Major

Track length1:26

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.8 in A Minor

Track length2:33

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.9 in E Minor

Track length1:42

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.10 in F Major

Track length1:51

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.11 in D Minor

Track length2:10

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.12 in D Minor

Track length2:02

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.13 in D Major

Track length1:17

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.14 in D Minor

Track length1:27

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.15 in B Flat Major

Track length2:34

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.16 in F Minor / Major

Track length2:02

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.17 in F Sharp Minor

Track length2:51

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.18 in D Major

Track length1:13

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.19 in B Minor

Track length1:48

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.20 in E Minor

Track length2:01

$0.85

$1.15

Hungarian Dance No.21 in E Minor

Track length1:24

$0.85

$1.15

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

The American pianist Julius Katchen made his name in the early 1950s and died in 1969, but although he's generally though of as a distinguished figure from the last generation, it's salutary to realise that he would probably be performing today if his career had not ended when he was only 42. Even so, his legacy of recordings reminds us of his gifts and the breadth of his repertory, and the present Brahms cycle has distinction. It begins with an account of the Paganini Variations that gives ample proof of his assured technique: the playing tells us at once that the challenging variations in sixths (Nos 1 and 2 in Book 1) held no terrors for him, and the athleticism here is matched by a fluency in the leggiero writing of the variation that follows. In this work, though, you're generally made more aware of a keyboard virtuoso than a poet; there are other performances which balance these two qualities more finely. Tempos tend to rapidity, too, and the piano sound tends to have a hardish brilliance. However, he does bring a gentler quality to the three other sets of variations here, not least in his freer use of rubato and tonal nuance, as witness (say) the serene Variations Nos 11-12 in the big Handel set, where the recording from three years earlier is easier on the ear. Here, as elsewhere, there's a little tape hiss, but not enough to distract.
Poetry is to be found in good measure in Katchen's playing of the Four Ballades, Op 10.
These pieces belie the composer's youth in their deep introspection, though the pianist takes a brisk view of the Andante con moto tempo in No 4. The 16 Waltzes of Op 39 are attractive too in their crispness and charm, and the early Scherzo in E flat minor has the right dour vigour. The three sonatas are also impressive in their strong, energetic interpretative grasp, though you could wish that the first-movement repeat of No 1 had been observed. Also, slow movements could have a still more inward quality to convey that brooding self-communion which is so characteristic of this composer (though that of Sonata No 3 in F minor is pretty near it). But the great F minor Sonata is spacious and thoughtful as well as leonine, and this is a noble performance, well recorded in 1966.
The shorter pieces are finely done also.
Katchen is in his element in the Two Rhapsodies of Op 79, balancing the stormy and lyrical qualities to perfection. The Fantasias, Op 116, aren't so well recorded (the sound is a bit muffled).
However, the playing is masterly, with tragedy, twilight mystery and storm and stress fully play- ing their part and giving a golden glow to such pieces as the lovely E major Intermezzo which is No 6 of the set and the A major Intermezzo, Op 118 No 2. Possibly more sensuous gipsy charm could be found in, say, the B minor Capriccio of Op 76, but it's very attractive playing and the playful C major Intermezzo in Op 119 is delightful, as is the tender lullaby that begins Op 117.
Only the first 10 of the 21 Hungarian Dances exist in the composer's own (very difficult) version for piano solo, and in the others, written for piano duet, Katchen is joined by Jean-Pierre Marty; there's plenty of fire here and much to enjoy. Altogether, this Brahms set is a fine memorial to Katchen and a worthy issue.

Offer,Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

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