Search - Brahms, Afanassiev, Suchanov :: Sonatas for 2 Pianos

The Brahms Sonata for Two Pianos is an earlier version of the famous Piano Quintet. Brahms permitted its publication and considered it a valid alternative to the better-known Quintet version. In the hands of pianists with the right dynamism, it can come off as a thrilling experience (as with Martha Argerich/Alexandre Rabinovich, on Teldec). But the way these Russian artists ruminate through the piece, in such a leisurely manner, it doesn't generate much excitement at all. As for the Souvenir, it was a piece of early hackwork published under a pseudonym and best forgotten by pianists and everyone else. --Leslie Gerber