I need to start doing a better job of tagging my posts. I could have sworn I posted previously about the Brahms second piano concerto. But I can't seem to find it. So forgive me if I'm repeating myself.

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This week the Seattle Symphony was doing "a week of Brahms." A bit of overstatement--but still two all-Brahms programs in a single week. Both featured Vladimir Feltsman as soloist. We went Friday night and last night.

The highlight of the program for me was Brahm's second piano concerto. Interestingly, it's four movements (like a symphony) rather than three movements typical of most concerti. It is stunningly beautiful piece, particularly the third movement Andante, which features solo cello.

Here is a short excerpt of the Andante:

Brahms Piano Concerto 2, Andante

This, of course, was played by our resident rock-star principal cellist Joshua Roman. It is a serious treat to hear him featured. We had seen him previously preform this concerto with Andre Watts, last February, when his performance was equally remarkable.

I know some long-time symphony goers grow weary of the more standard, popular repertoire, but personally I never tire of hearing Brahms in the symphony hall.

Update: Classical in Seattle has a review of both concerts here.

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I was happy to have recovered enough by Sunday to attend an afternoon chamber music concert in the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall - my favorite small venue in the city.

The program included the Brahms Quintet for Piano and Strings in F Minor, otherwise known as "Condi's piece" since it seems we have a Secretary of State who can actually pull off the quintet's piano part. I am very impressed by this, even though I'm not much at all impressed with Condi otherwise.

But, rather than Condi, it was Christian Zacharias at the piano.

The performance as a whole was thrilling. Two new (and wonderful) young principle players from the symphony were in the Quintet, Elisa Barston (violin) and Joshua Roman (cello). Both have a wonderful, joyous presence on stage and in their playing. Mr. Roman in particular has been getting some press recently. He's only 23 and aside from his youth, he is, well, adorable.

Joshua Roman

But, looks and youth aside, his playing is a huge asset to the orchestra. Particularly memorable this season was his performance in the Brahms Second Piano Concerto (unusually a four rather than a three movement concerto). The third (Andante) movement is largely a dialog between piano and cello. Here's a little MP3 snippet of the movement.

He had everyone, including the music critic for the Seattle Times, spellbound with his playing here.

Joshua is doing a solo recital this Friday at Town Hall. I can't go, but Drake might. I hope he gets a good turnout for it.

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