Brahms: Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 4 Barry Douglas

• Johannes Brahms ( 1833 - 1897): Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1:
• 1 Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: I. Allegro 11:00
• 2 Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: II. Andante (Nach einem altdeutschen Minneliede) 05:25
• 3 Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: III. Scherzo. Allegro molto e con fuoco 05:43
• 4 Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco 06:30
• 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117:
• 5 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor. Andante con moto 05:19
• 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119:
• 6 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119: No. 2, Intermezzo in E Minor. Andantino un poco agitato 04:37
• Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9:
• 7 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Theme. Ziemlich langsam 01:15
• 8 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 1 01:10
• 9 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 2, Poco più moto - 00:23
• 10 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 3, Tempo di tema 01:00
• 11 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 4, Poco più moto 00:42
• 12 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 5, Allegro capriccioso 00:54
• 13 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 6, Allegro 00:52
• 14 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 7, Andante 00:44
• 15 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 8, Andante (Non troppo lento) 01:13
• 16 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 9, Schnell 00:33
• 17 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 10, Poco adagio - 01:23
• 18 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 11, Un poco più animato 00:32
• 19 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 12, Allegretto, poco scherzando 00:42
• 20 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 13, Non troppo presto 00:43
• 21 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 14, Andante 01:10
• 22 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 15, Poco adagio - 01:17
• 23 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9: Var. 16 01:40
• 8 Piano Pieces, Op. 76:
• 24 8 Piano Pieces, Op. 76: No. 1, Capriccio in F-Sharp Minor. Un poco agitato 03:26
• 25 8 Piano Pieces, Op. 76: No. 2, Capriccio in B Minor. Allegretto non troppo 03:21
• 26 8 Piano Pieces, Op. 76: No. 6, Intermezzo in A Major. Andante con moto 03:29
• 4 Ballades, Op. 10:
• 27 4 Ballades, Op. 10: No. 1 in D Minor. Andante "Edward" 04:43
• 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1:
• 28 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Theme. Non troppo presto - 00:27
• 29 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 1 - 00:31
• 30 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 2 00:33
• 31 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 3 00:31
• 32 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 4 - 00:54
• 33 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 5 00:42
• 34 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 6 - 00:28
• 35 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 7 - 00:28
• 36 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 8 00:32
• 37 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 9 01:25
• 38 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 10 01:12
• 39 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 11, Andante 01:21
• 40 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 12 00:57
• 41 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 13 00:35
• 42 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 14a, Allegro - 01:20
• 43 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35, Book 1: Var. 14b, Presto, ma non troppo 00:55
• Total Runtime 01:22:37

Info for Brahms: Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 4

Barry Douglas’s monumental project to record the complete works for solo piano by Johannes Brahms continues, seen by BBC Music as ‘a triumph of Brahmsian thought, with playing that gets right to the heart of the composer’.

Once again, the album is presented as a stand-alone recital, prominently featuring the C major Sonata, which was Brahms’s first published work. The influence on Brahms of his early romantic predecessors Beethoven and Schubert is obvious here, not only in the virtuoso demands on the performer but also in the opening, which recalls both Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata, Op. 106 and Schubert’s ‘Wanderer’ Fantasy.

Two other works are much more than simple sets of variations. The Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann highlight the close relationship of Brahms with Schumann and his wife, Clara, to whom the work is dedicated ‘with intimate reverence’, and demonstrate Brahms’s skill at ‘thematic actualisation’, whereby latent potentialities of a theme are gradually revealed throughout the variation process. In the Variations on a Theme by Niccolò Paganini – the first of two books originally published in 1866 as ‘Keyboard Studies’ – each variation explores a distinct figural pattern or keyboard technique.

The recording also features short keyboard character pieces, abundant in the second half of the nineteenth century and especially in Brahms’s later years.

“… Particularly where Brahms is painting on his broadest canvasses, as in the first movement of the Sonata, Barry Douglass achieves a magnificently orchestral texture. This is big, broad-boned playing of a high order: powerful but never noisy; grand but never grandiose; texturally lucid and tonally rich. The very sound is resonantly Brahmsian …” (Jeremy Siepman, BBC Music Magazine)

“ For Sonata No 1 Douglass achieves something special, abetted by full, realistic piano sound from Chandos which allows the instrument to sing Douglas began his ongoing cycle in 2012, and for me this instalment is the best so far. If you want to dip your toe in the water, here’s a good place to start” (Huntley Dent, Fanfare)

Barry Douglas, piano

Barry Douglas
has established a major international career since winning the Gold Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Moscow. As Artistic Director of Camerata Ireland and the Clandeboye Festival, he continues to celebrate his Irish heritage whilst also maintaining a busy international touring schedule.

Barry Douglas Picture 2015Barry opened the 17/18 season performing Tchaikovsky with the Halle Orchestra, after which he began new collaborations with both the Endellion String Quartet and the Borodin Quartet. He toured in recital in the UK and USA and performed with orchestras across the globe from Canada to Europe to China to Russia. During the 16/17 season Barry performed two full Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto cycles in Ireland with the RTE Orchestra in Dublin and the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast. He also gave performances of Tchaikovsky’s first Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra, and opened the St. Petersburg Philharmonic’s concert season, all marking the 30th anniversary of his Tchaikovsky International Competition win.

Other recent and future highlights include performances at BBC Proms in the Park with the Ulster Orchestra, a UK tour with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, and appearances with Orchestre de Auvergne, Barcelona Symphony, Bogota Philharmonic and Vancouver Symphony orchestras. He also recently gave the premiere of Kevin Volans’ fourth piano concerto with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and performed in recital at the Verbier Festival.

He has previously given concerts with the BBC Scottish Symphony, London Symphony, Russian National, Cincinnati Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Staatskapelle, Halle, Orchestre National de France, Seattle Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic orchestras, among others. Barry regularly plays in recitals throughout the world, with recent performances in the UK, the Netherlands, Armenia, Mexico, China and the US.

Barry is an exclusive Chandos recording artist. He recently completed recording the full works for solo piano of Brahms, the six albums of which have received much critical praise. International Record Review wrote that “this is indeed Brahms playing of the utmost integrity and authority… this cycle looks set to become a benchmark version.” The interesting programming of each disc presents each album as a stand-alone recital, providing a varied and engaging listening experience. His current recording project focusses on the solo piano works of Schubert; the fourth and final disc will be released next season. Last season he also began a new series, recording Tchaikovsky solo piano music. Also with Chandos Barry is exploring Irish folk music through his own arrangements, working with ancient melodies through to pieces by contemporary song writers. The first in this series, Celtic Reflections, was released in September 2014 and was followed in 2016 by a second disc: Celtic Airs.

In 1999 Barry Douglas founded the chamber orchestra Camerata Ireland to celebrate and nurture the very best of young musicians from both Northern and the Republic of Ireland. In addition to striving for musical excellence, one of the orchestra’s aims is to further the peace process in Ireland by promoting dialogue and collaboration through its musical education programmes. Barry regularly tours with Camerata Ireland throughout the world and visited the US in the spring of 2018. Highlights of past seasons were Camerata Ireland’s debut at the BBC Proms in London and a world premiere of a new cantata commissioned by The Honourable The Irish Society, “At Sixes and Sevens”, alongside the London Symphony Orchestra to celebrate Derry-Londonderry becoming City of Culture 2013. Barry Douglas received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year’s Honours List for services to music.

Booklet for Brahms: Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 4