Brahms Piano Concerto no 2 in B flat major, opus 83
by richibi
though I’d no intention of presenting a piano concerto
quite yet I’d been trolling Celibidaches on the Internet,
hold back this gem I found of his, Brahms’ Piano
same venue, same Münchner Philharmoniker, same
starched ceremonial ruffles, I thought, same even age
of the conductor, to the very minute, it appeared, in
his unchanged eye and perspective, wise, serene,
omnipotent, perhaps the very same concert as in the
illustrious Ravel, I said to myself, though later I couldn’t
especially recognize individual instrumentalists
Daniel Barenboim, who conducted earlier the speedy
“Boléro”, wears another hat here, he’s the pianist, but
in this incarnation he is transcendental, carried aloft,
I think, notably, by the Olympian Celibidache, who
cedes his fire and glory to the younger Barenboim
throughout, who supremely is up for the challenge,
a ready and rearing Apollo, taking on the treacherous
musical task, defying obstreperous planets, perilous
astrological constellations in nefarious conjunctions,
stray or fleeting stars, to foster safely home to its
final hearth his solar chariot, in a towering sunset,
a finale of apocalyptic proportions, each purveyor
casting unutterable light, god and mere immortal,
from his own particular perch, upon our beholden
world
Celibidache, as would Zeus, cedes serenely to his
younger avatar his bow, his deserved adulation,
safe in his own unquestionable omnipotence
this concerto has four movements incidentally, greater
length always suggests more gravitas, more substance
is it warranted
you be the judge
Richard
psst: in another mythological context, note the hand of
Celibidache resting on air, intermittently fluttering,
at the beginning of the slowest movement, the
andante, the third, the hand of God ministering,
according to Michelangelo, in the “Creation of
Adam”, should you not yet be convinced of the
maestro’s august and unequivocal stature
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