Stephen Kovacevich was at the height of his considerable powers when he first recorded the two Brahms piano concertos, his titanic pianistic technique showing off these two bookends of Brahms’s career. The concertos are generously coupled with roughly contemporaneous solo works. (Newton Classics) ‘Let me say straight away that the performance is extremely fine; indeed, such is its eloquence that I put aside the score and notepad and just listened for pleasure the first time round.’ Gramophone (First Concerto), June 1981 ‘The performance combines poetic feeling and intellectual strength in no small measure, and it is one to which I am sure I will want to return. There is an unforced, natural eloquence that I much admire; the first movement unfolds without any false urgency and momentum; it is spacious, autumnal, reflective as well as majestic.’ Gramophone (Second Concerto), December 1981 “Visceral, inspired, spiritual and sensual, his Brahms balances on the edge, yet reaches profound repose for slow movements.” (BBC Music Magazine) “This superb two-disc reissue is a timely reminder - if such a reminder were necessary - of Stephen Kovacevich's stature as one of the great musicians of our time...every formidable demand is met with unflagging brio and a fierce musical commitment.” (Gramophone, Awards Issue 2010) Nagrody: Gramophone Magazine "Re-issue of the Month" - Awards Issue 2010