Brahms Early and Late Piano Works

Name: Brahms Early and Late Piano Works
SKU: SIGCD916
Availability: InStock

£12.00 – £21.00

His 16th album with Signum Classics, the Welsh pianist, Llŷr Williams, brings a profound musical intelligence to his work as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. His new album of compositions by Johannes Brahms offers a comprehensive exploration of Brahms’ introspective and expressive piano works. In addition the album features Variations on a theme by R Schumann, Op 9 – harking back to Williams’ celebrated album of works by Robert Schumann (SIGCD756) released in January 2024. ★★★★ “… the performances are always immaculate, their working out totally lucid; it’s unquestionably thoughtful, authoritative playing.” – The Guardian. Llŷr Williams’ long and successful collaboration with Signum Records includes the 8-disc box-set ‘A Schubert Journey’ (2020), the 12-volume ‘Beethoven Unbound’ (2018), a ‘Wagner Without Words’ double album (2014) and highlights from Liszt’s ‘Années de pèlerinage‘ (2012).

★★★★★ “Right from the third sonata, he shows himself to be an intelligent pianist, one who not only thinks about the pieces he plays, but also approaches them with genuine musicality and sensitivity” – Pizzicato

★★★★★ “This is fine Brahms playing indeed: Llŷr Williams has the depth of understanding and comprehensive technique necessary to deliver these masterworks through a high level of interpretative mastery…The recording quality is also fine, as is the accompanying booklet essay by Geraint Lewis. An exceptional issue” – Musical Opinion

★★★★ Performance ★★★★ Recording “Llŷr Williams has an enviable reputation for pianism of a deeply considered, even considerate kind … [here] his special qualities are on ample display” – BBC Music Magazine

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SKU: SIGCD916

Llŷr Williams, piano

Release date: 01/11/24

Catalogue number: SIGCD916

Barcode: 635212091623

“Llŷr Williams plays it with a rare clarity of severity that gives the melody light and drive at the same time. It’s as if one is hearing this sonata for the first time. The Op. 116 and Op. 119 is also breathtakingly intense, structurally clear and poetic…Exceptional…We want to hear Williams live here!” – Rondo

“Williams captures the intimacy, the deeply personal gestures, and powerful emotions really well. Potent Brahms, and a well captured piano sound.” – BBC Radio 3

“Williams attends with care to details of dynamics, phrasing and articulation…Williams’s playing is musicianly, tasteful and unexaggerated, with finely judged tempos” – Gramophone

“He is a very thoughtful pianist, and these works have been chosen with great skill…This is superb recital building for home listening, and Williams’ musical intelligence guides us through it effortlessly.” – EyeOnLondon

“Williams repeatedly finds touching formulations full of intimacy and melancholy. In the virtuoso, effervescent pieces, one encounters a style of playing thar is passionate and serene at the same time.” – Robert Nemecek

“Without exaggeration, he probes deep, his pianism poetic.” – International Piano online, Review,

“[Williams is] always musical as well as thoughtful, subtle and searching…so personal yet universal…all adding to a stellar whole, captured in very good sound.” – Colin’s Column

[1 Klaviersonate in f minor, Op. 5: I. Allegro maestoso
[2 Klaviersonate in f minor, Op. 5: II. Andante espressivo
[3 Klaviersonate in f minor, Op. 5: III. Scherzo: Allegro energico
[4 Klaviersonate in f minor, Op. 5: IV. Intermezzo (Rückblick): Andante molto
[5 Klaviersonate in f minor, Op. 5: V. Finale: Allegro moderato ma rubato
[6 Klavierstücke Op. 118: No 1 in A minor: Intermezzo
[7 Klavierstücke Op. 118: No. 2 in A major: Intermezzo
[8 Klavierstücke Op. 118: No. 3 in G minor: Ballade
[9 Klavierstücke Op. 118: No. 4 in F minor: Intermezzo
[10 Klavierstücke Op. 118: No. 5 in F major: Romance
[11 Klavierstücke Op. 118: No. 6 in E flat minor: Intermezzo
[12 Theme and variations, Op. 18b: Andante, ma moderato
[1] Fantasian Op. 116: No 1 in D minor: Capriccio
[2] Fantasian Op. 116: No 2 in A minor: Intermezzo
[3] Fantasian Op. 116: No 3 in G minor: Capriccio
[4] Fantasian Op. 116: No 4 in E major: Intermezzo
[5] Fantasian Op. 116: No 5 in E minor: Intermezzo
[6] Fantasian Op. 116: No 6 in E major: Intermezzo
[7] Fantasian Op. 116: No 7 in D minor: Capriccio
[8] Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9
[9] Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117: No 1 in E flat major: Andante moderato
[10] Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117: No 2 in B flat minor: Andante non troppo e con molto espressione
[11] Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117: No 3 in C sharp minor: Andante con moto
[12] Klavierstücke, Op. 119: No 1 in B minor: Intermezzo
[13] Klavierstücke, Op. 119: No 2 in E minor: Intermezzo
[14] Klavierstücke, Op. 119: No 3 in C major: Intermezzo
[15] Klavierstücke, Op. 119: No 4 in E flat major: Rhapsodie