A comparison between Brahms's two piano concertos clearly shows the development he had undergone as a person and a composer. When he premiered his first piano concerto in 1859, he was still a 26-year-old 'Stürmer und Dränger' who still had a long way to go. When he premiered his Second Piano Concerto in the summer of 1881, however, he was one of the most important and respected composers of the
… time. The well-known critic Eduard Hanslick wrote about this second concert, among other things: 'In my opinion the current Brahms is just as self as the earlier one, albeit slightly different. Over the years, he has not only become more confident and clear in his art, but also happier. This echoes in his music ... '. This performance of the 'Second Piano Concerto' is by pianist Maurizio Pollini and the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Claudio Abbado. This is a live recording from 1995. (HJ)more