Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 - III. Adagio (Bernstein/Zimerman)

The slow movement of the second piano concerto is in the tonic key of B-flat major and is unusual in utilizing an extensive cello solo within a piano concerto; the source of this idea may have been Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor (written when she was 16 years old!), which features a slow movement scored only for cello and piano.
Brahms later rewrote the cantabile cello theme and, fittingly, changed it into a song, titled Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer ("My Slumber Grows Ever More Peaceful"), which he published as his Op. 105, No. 2.
Within the concerto, the cello plays the theme for the first three minutes before the piano comes in. However, the gentler melodic piece that the piano plays soon gives way to a stormy theme in B-flat minor.
When the storm subsides, still in the minor key, the piano plays a transitional motif that leads to the key of F-sharp major before the cello comes in to reprise, in the wrong key, and knowing that it has to get back to B-flat major, the piano and the orchestra make a brief transition to E major before finishing off the theme in its original home key of B-flat major.
After the piano plays the transitional motifs, the piano quickly reprises the middle section before the final coda is established.

[@jonobester5817]

Wow. What a performance. OMG. Here's the connection to Mahler. And Strauss. The resolution to another suspended chord, so to speak. For moi, anyway.. Only thing Different I would have done is to have one of the Lady cellists play the ending solo, which is in a higher register, and likely much harder(!) Beautiful! Thank you!

[@stevenj9970]

I've been a professional symphony musician for over 45 years and STILL cannot fathom how Brahms could write something this amazing beautiful....

[@afifi21]

Well said. Brahms has written so many unfathomably beautiful melodies that it would be tough for me to choose just one of them. Even then, I think I'd still settle for this one; it's so sublime...

[@FinanceAlex]

There is something about this movement. It's unlike anything else from Brahms. A special touch of magic 🪄

[@jraldne1]

THANK YOU!!!...THANK YOU!!!...THANK YOU!!!...THANK YOU!!!!!....

[@librmente6343]

Love this performance

[@jonobester5817]

Are Harold Gomberg and Julius Baker in this band? I think so.

[@samuelwu9773]

For personal use:
9:52

[@TheAssassin000]

thanks, I needed that too lol

[@Edopapa]

^^

[@Edopapa]

^_^