The Brahms Piano Concerto No.1 is a rather unwieldly piece. Having found unpersuasive various versions by acclaimed artists, who shall remain nameless, I gave up on trying to understand the purpose and significance of the piece.
Ten years later, a radio broadcast of Curzon's landmark interpretation of 1962, under George Szell and the London Symphony Orchestra (Decca/London 425-082-2), at long last, revealed its secrets. It had been my misfortune to have denied myself, for a decade, the pleasure of a monumental composition.
Other classic Curzons are the 'Trout' Quintet in A for piano and strings with members of the Vienna Octet (Decca/London 417459-2) and the Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor.
Another acclaimed recording of the Brahms First is, of course, by Stephen Kovacevich and Wolfgang Sawallisch with The London Philharmonic, 1992 (EMI Classics, D183595).
