Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1; Schumann: Introduction and Concert Allegro.(Review)

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1; Schumann: Introduction and Concert Allegro. Idil Biret, piano; Antoni Wit, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Naxos 8.554088.

The resident pianist of the Naxos label, Idil Biret, was bound to get to the Brahms First Piano Concerto sooner or later, so better now than never. After one of the longest introductions to any concerto anywhere, the piano finally makes its entrance at about the four-minute mark, providing the pianist has stayed awake long enough to come in on time. Ms. Biret attacks the opening movement with vigor and pounds out the notes in appropriately heroic fashion. If she misses some of the craggy work's subtler moments, especially in the Adagio, she more than makes up for it in pure adrenaline. I especially enjoyed the closing Rondo where the massive structure of the concerto's beginning gives way to a more lyrical yet still energetic tone. Ms. Biret seems more at home here and concludes the piece in a most poignant manner. Frankly, though, I liked ...