Original recording remastered
Customer Reviews:
Fleisher or Gilels? 
I go back and forth as to which set I like better, this one, or Gilels. Truely, I couldn’t see being without either, along with Richter’s No. 2. I think it’s fairly clear that Fleisher’s No. 1 is the best ever recorded, while the competition at Concerto No. 2 is more clouded. I, however, tend to prefer Gilels here more often than not. In the end, I wouldn’t want to choose between the two, so just buy both, although Fleisher’s playing on the variations may put this set at the top.
Leon Fleischer performs Brahams D Minor Concerto
Leon Fleischer performed Brahams D Minor (#1) Concerto with George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra. The original recording has been deftly converted to a CD (5 stars). Rudolph Serkin also recorded the D Minor with the Cleveland Orchestra. The LP to CD conversion was not as well done. And, I think Fleischer’s performance outperforms Serkin’s although the two of them are far superior to any other pianist. Bottom Line: This is a MUST HAVE CD
Fleisher Is Phenomenal
Finally, I have found the recording of the Brahms First Piano Concerto to suit me. I used to own the one on RCA with Gary Graffman and Charles Munch, which was wonderful. Unfortunately, that is out of print. Since then I have acquired the one with Clifford Curzon (he takes it way too slowly), Alexis Weissenberg (the piano is under miked), and Artur Rubinstein (a pretty good rendering). Fleisher beats them all hands down. He gives the most technically flawless and POETIC performance of the bunch. He plays the concerto as if he were on fire. My only complaint is that the acoustics of Severance Hall in Cleveland are a little too dry for my taste.
As for the Second Brahms Piano Concerto, Fleisher plays it equally well but, unfortunately, the piano is under miked. He performs all kinds of technical miracles and many of them are simply played over by the orchestra. Don’t get me wrong, the orchestra sounds fantastic, but the Brahms Second is not an orchestral piece with a piano obbligato.
As for the Handel Variations and the Waltzes, well, ho hum. I would have much preferred hearing some of the smaller Brahms pieces such as the Intermezzos, Capriccios, Rhapsody, or the Hungarian Dances, but they are, nevertheless, very well played.
