Johannes Brahms - Intermezzo op. 118 nr. 2 played by Michiel Demarey

I discovered this intermezzo when I was 10 years old. It was a track on a CD that you got for free when you bought 2 packs of coffee. It fascinated me because I was unable to play it by ear. Its structure and voicings were so different. An almost pragmatic approach of composing yet loaded with emotion. I always felt love sadness and loneliness in this piece.

[@dhueij93]

What a gorgeous sound you get from the instrument. Thank you for sharing this wonderfully expressive recording.

[@epicaunleashed8764]

Could you tell me the name of this painting? I've seen it so many times on classical piano relaged videos, but never heard it's name.

[@Erik83474]

It's like hearing this gem for the very first time. That just tells it all.

[@micaelabonetti949]

Deux enregistrements de vous en moins de 24 heures, après un si long silence, Michiel, quelle joie...
Quelle profondeur et Beauté, ici, celle dont le prince Michkine de Dostoïevski dit qu'elle "sauvera le monde" (L' idiot)...

[@kotsverslimme]

Too bad I didn't hear you play it yesterday. Until next time maybe ;)

[@michieldpiano]

It would have sounded even better on that 1890 Steinway. What a dream piano it is! Next time I really want to play the Chopin Op. 48 nr 1 on that marvelous instrument. There is a recording of it on my channel. Greetz

[@jokanies]

How beautiful delicate intimate aspiring as most moving!
g r a t e f u l l

[@Videocommunicator]

In general, I love the sound and emotion of your interpretation of this intermezzo. Especially the dramatic climax near the end of the middle section. I also accept your amount of rubato. (Whenever playing it, I choose a similar frequency, I guess.) But I must confess I have my difficulties with your overall execution of the rubati in this piece: For me, the execution is often "too much of the same" and too "vertical," nearly always like a change of meter, adding a crotchet or so. I think that this intermezzo offers amble possibility to play most of the rubati rather sublime and "polyphonic" (combined with a subtle "arpeggiando" of chords), without disturbing the meter, and to save a more "ambitious" rubato to only a few important places. - Nevertheless, there's much beauty in your interpretation.

[@michieldpiano]

Thanks for your comment even though I do not agree. It is Brahms, not Schumann. The piece asks for "too much of the same". Brahms wrote more with his mind than with his heart. I feel that he intented it to be played like that.

[@msotil]

And the piano?

[@michieldpiano]

Yamaha CFIIIs. I will do a recording on a Maene piano (like the one Barenboim uses).