Brahms: Piano Sonata Op.5, 4 Ballades Op.10

Most pianists luxuriate in the full-dress pianism of Brahms's third sonata, but Stephen Hough's way of celebrating it, plus the little-played op. 10 Ballades, is the epitome of restraint--with spare pedaling and shimmering translucent textures. In this early work, Brahms takes us on a tour of his freshly created musical landscape. Hough makes the ideal guide, alert to every twist and turn in the journey and to every compositional caprice. Did Brahms write this passionate sonata during the first weeks of his acquaintance with Clara Schumann? Either way, it doesn't matter: he was clearly in the mood for love, and that is what shines out of the Andante expressivo movement, which is based on a love poem by Sternau. He was clearly also infatuated with Robert Schumann's work. His debt to his older mentor is evident in many places, to the point--in the third of the ballades--where he seems to have cribbed directly from Schumann's Kreisleriana. But Brahms's fanatical craftsmanship is also in evidence. Speaking of the sonata, he wrote to a friend: "I have washed it quite clean, so that it can now allow itself to be seen in public." Hough's recording reflects the same scrupulous care. --Michael Church