Brahms:
- Piano Pieces, Opp. 117, 118, 119
Some of the music of Johannes Brahms goes with me everywhere. And it’s easy, once I load it into my iPod. The Intermezzi Op. 117 are my great favorites; I have often used themes from the piano pieces and Intermezzi as lead – ins to my radio programs.
On this CD we hear the following:
Brahms:
- Intermezzi (3), Op. 117
- Klavierstücke (6), Op. 118
- Klavierstücke (4), Op. 119
Performed by Eduardo Fernandez (piano)
Tracks on this CD are as follows:
1. Intermezzos, Op. 117: No. 1 in E flat major
2. Intermezzos, Op. 117: No. 2 in B flat minor
3. Intermezzos, Op. 117: No. 3 in C sharp minor
4. Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 1. Intermezzo in A minor
5. Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 2. Intermezzo in A major
6. Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 3. Ballade in G minor
7. Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 4. Intermezzo in F minor
8. Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 5. Romanze in F major
9. Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 6. Intermezzo in E flat minor
10. Piano Pieces, Op. 119: No. 1. Intermezzo in B minor
11. Piano Pieces, Op. 119: No. 2. Intermezzo in E minor
12. Piano Pieces, Op. 119: No. 3. Intermezzo in C major
13. Piano Pieces, Op. 119: No. 4. Rhapsody in E flat major
I must say that I am disappointed in Mr. Fernandez’s performance. In my view, these Brahms pieces need to be performed with great care, great sensitivity, and great attention to dynamics. His performance does not measure up to how I feel Johannes Brahms intended these gems to be played.
Listen for yourself, and enter your comments at the bottom of this post:
Here is Eduardo Fernandez in the Brahms Intermezzo op. 118 no. 2:
And next, here is Eduardo Fernandez in the ‘Vocalise’ by Rachmaninov:
Finally, here is Eduardo Fernandez in Etude-Tableau Op 39 number 8 by Rachmaninov:
I find Mr. Fernandez to be a good pianist, technically. I wish, however, that there were greater dynamic inflections and more sensitive expressiveness in the music.
Tags: Eduardo Fernandez, Brahms, Intermezzos, piano pieces