Johannes Brahms: Eight Piano Pieces Op. 76

Performer: Dmitri Alexeev (*1947) Brahms published this collection in 1879. It marvellously anticipates his late piano style (especially op. 118, to which certain pieces are very closely related), for the harmonic processes, in opposition to thematic variety, are getting ever more important to the formal layouts of the pieces. Alexeev provides a gorgeous rendition, thrilling in as many of the atmospherical and characteristical registers as this set has to offer. Highlights of the recording certainly are: -Those very Brahmsian, remorseful, almost crushing harmonies in No. 1 at 00:49 -The magically radiant and lucid rendition of the theme in the high treble toward the end of No. 3 at 08:23 -The closing climax of No. 5 (along with that earth-shattering final chord) going from 15:34. 1: 00:00 - Un poco agitato, f-sharp minor. The set's first piece begins with an electrifying opening section, a steady crescendo building up in a raging swell to culminate in a rush of C#-sharp major. What