Brahms's Sonata, Op. 1, shares similarities with Schubert's 'Wanderer' Fantasy, including a continuous, four-movements-in-one design and the use of thematic transformation.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms had an enduring interest in variations, seeing the genre not only as a display of keyboard technique but also as a way to create large-scale forms that could rival the sonata.
Performer Biography
Barry Douglas, the pianist on this recording, won the Gold Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.
Composer Biography
The meeting between Brahms and Robert and Clara Schumann in 1853 was the most decisive event in Brahms's compositional career, intertwining their lives personally and artistically.
Composition History
Brahms's Piano Sonata in C major, Op. 1, was one of six early compositions promoted by Robert Schumann, a composer and critic, to Leipzig publishers in 1853.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded using 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Instruments
The recording features a Steinway Model D (571228) concert grand piano, provided by Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge.
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