Handel Variations, Op. 24; Paganini Variations, Op. 35; Ballades, Op. 10
Johannes Brahms
Julius Katchen /
early 1960sGil's top recommendation, available as a single disc or in his complete Brahms box set. Katchen shows 'wonderful finesse' in the 'Handel Variations,' 'wonderful virtuosity... also wonderful color' in the 'Paganini Variations,' and 'nails the introspective character' of the 'Ballades.'
Benno Moiseiwitsch /
1953A mono recording of the 'Handel Variations' with a 'wonderful feel for Brahms.' It has a 'wonderful sense of spontaneity and character,' and is 'very powerful... and poetic as well.'
Solomon /
1942An 'iconic version' of the 'Handel Variations' (coupled with his Concerto No. 1). The sound is 'noisy,' but the playing is 'wonderfully captivating, very powerful and strong' with 'wonderful imagination and creativity.'
Egon Petri /
1937A 'very strong playing, very virtuosic,' and 'very, very intense' performance of the 'Paganini Variations' with a 'wonderful strong tone,' despite the 1937 sound.