Brahms: Piano Works Vol. 2 Jonathan Plowright

• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897): Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2:
• 1 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: I. Allegro non troppo, ma energico 05:34
• 2 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: II. Andante con espressione 06:56
• 3 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: III. Scherzo. Allegro 03:36
• 4 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: IV. Finale. Sostenuto - Allegro non troppo e rubato 12:24
• Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No.
• 5 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Theme 01:42
• 6 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 1 01:43
• 7 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 2 00:58
• 8 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 3 01:13
• 9 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 4 01:09
• 10 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 5 01:55
• 11 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 6 01:15
• 12 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 7 01:49
• 13 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 8 00:50
• 14 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 9 00:53
• 15 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 10 01:23
• 16 Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, Op. 21 No. 1: Variation 11 05:06
• 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117:
• 17 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 1 in E-Flat Major 04:56
• 18 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 2 in B-Flat Minor 05:44
• 19 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor 06:59
• Scherzo in E-Flat Minor:
• 20 Scherzo in E-Flat Minor, Op. 4 08:16
• Total Runtime 01:14:21

Info for Brahms: Piano Works Vol. 2

The Second Piano Sonata is a hugely impressive work weighing-in with a playing time of almost 30 minutes and is accompanied here by a number of shorter works including the Three Intermezzi, one of the darkest and most beautiful of Brahms' late piano works.

The BBC Music Magazine, reviewing volume one of the series, found "tremendous warmth, plus an intimate atmosphere" in the performances.

„Jonathan Plowright delivers this highly charged musical argument with tremendous momentum, but is careful to follow Brahms's meticulous pedal marks, thus ensuring that none of the full blooded textures sound bloated.“ (BBC Music magazine)

„Plowright shows himself a true and moving poet of the keyboard.“ (Gramophone)

„Brahmsians will want to hear this latest milestone in interpretation of hs piano music. Others will also relish this superb disc, representing the original thinking and expert playing of an artist in the full bloom of maturity. Highly recommended.“ (IRR)

„Jonathan Plowright's survey of Brahms's piano music for BIS could hardly have got off to a more auspicious start. The main piece here is the F sharp minor Piano Sonata Op 2, and from the first few bars of its opening movement, it's clear that Plowright has got a perfect sense of the scale and the range of this tricky early work. As well as its technical brilliance, the sense of the boundless invention of the young Brahms worrying away at the constraints of sonata form is vividly present. But the brief moments of introspection are given full weight, too, while the hugely ambitious finale, which can so easily lose its way, is perfectly controlled. The rather introspective and very beautiful Variations on an Original Theme Op 21 No 1 are unfolded with ease and refinement, every inner voice in Brahms's piano writing precisely etched, while the three Intermezzi of Op 117 shift the scale and focus once again, on to playing of total intimacy and quiet poetry. This series should turn out to be worth following very closely.“ (Guardian)

Jonathan Plowright, piano

Jonathan Plowright
Hailed by reviewers as "a colossal musical mind" with a "transcendent technique", Jonathan Plowright is recognised globally as a truly exceptional pianist.

Gold Medallist at the Royal Academy of Music and a Fulbright Scholar, prize winner in many competitions, Jonathan won Gold Medal First Prize at the Royal Overseas League Competition as well as the European Piano Competition, since when he has been in demand all over the world as recitalist, appeared with leading orchestras and ensembles and given numerous radio broadcasts.

Jonathan's last nine CD recordings have all been hugely successful and exclusively for Hyperion Records. His 2010 commemorative 'Hommage a Chopin' recording was one of their best sellers and attracted unanimous praise, including the prestigious Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Gramophone Editor’s Choice, and Diapason D'Or, as well as CD of the Week on ClassicFM and ABC Classic FM.

His most recent solo recording 'Homage to Paderewski' was released in November 2011, also to great critical acclaim, including a 5 star Classical CD of the Week in the Daily Telegraph.

His tenth, (and his first chamber music recording for Hyperion), the Zarebski Piano Quintet and Zelenski Piano Quartet with the Szymanowski Quartet, recently released is BBC Music Magazine Chamber Choice for December 2012.

He will be releasing his first disc of Brahms solo piano music for BIS Records in December 2012 in Sweden (February 2013 in the UK), and his third Romantic Piano Concerto recording for Hyperion in May 2013.

Jonathan has been a member of international piano competition juries, given numerous masterclasses, taught at summer schools and is currently Head of Keyboard at the University of Chichester and on the Keyboard Faculty of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Booklet for Brahms: Piano Works Vol. 2