Negative Positive
Title: Trying to be original, and mostly succeeding
Review: Buchbinder makes a good show of the solo part, not really adding anything new but more than holding his own. He is not the most lyrical or heroic of pianists. Where this performance differs from others, as you'd expect, is Harnoncourt. He has ideas about Brahms that cana't be ignored. The strings play with no vibrato at times, the repeated accents in the Scherzo are clipped staccato bursts (I felt a little sea sick), and above all he inserts hairpin turns in sustained notes, a la Baroque and Rococco performance practice.You will find these quirks either interesting or irritating. They at least add an element of originality. Otehrwise, Harnoncourt chiefly feels that Brahms shouldn't be overblown--this is most evident in the modetly phrased slow movement. I liked that, and the sweet Concertgebouw accompaniment throughout, but I wouldn't say that conducting quirks make for greatness.
Is the review positive or negative? 