Alexandre Kantorow, Brahms Festival 17-19 January 2025

Bozar hosted a Brahms festival this weekend and the piano concertos were being played by Alexandre Kantorow who already has coverage here. Today, he was in the company of the Belgian National Orchestra who were at home. Friday night’s concert was the Brahms 2 and Sunday afternoon was the Brahms 1. Both were sublime but I tend to lean a little towards the first piano concerto.

Both concerts were full, and I was up in a box rather than down at the feet of the soloist which is my preferred location. While I wasn’t totally lost on the orchestra pieces, the two piano concertos were absolute highlights. It’s also obvious that Kantorow is becoming a superstar, and it is hardly surprising. He was playing a Steinway and the sonority was exquisite, very bright and clean. I’ve always felt that the Steinway Ds were really reliable until I played a couple which didn’t quite do it for me lately. But the one in Bozar this weekend was a beautiful sounding instrument.

The second piano concerto on Friday night comes across almost as an autobiography to me; covering the dramatic ups and downs of Brahms’ life. Its second and third movements are amongst my favourite pieces for piano and orchestra.

I’ve never quite known what to make of the first concerto; it has a very long introductory phase, and then, the opening phrases for the piano are reticent, almost guarded. I’m always fascinated by the idea that he and Pyotr Tchaikovsky were completely overlapping and even shared a birthday although Brahms was 7 when Tchaikovsky popped out. There’s a lot in common, except the sound. They might both be romantics but that’s about as far as it is; they are both very distinctive.

I’ve always loved the third movement of the first concerto, and I’m pretty sure the first person I heard play it live was Barry Douglas. There is something quite imperious about Kantorow’s approach to it, however. I have never heard it played quite like that and yet, it was mesmerising.

He played encores at both concerts. I would love to know in particular what he played after the first piano concerto. I’m not saying I could ever aspire to play it, but I’d like to dream, anyway.