[Sonoda] Brahms Late Works for Solo Piano (Op.79, 116, 117, 118 & 119) (Fan-made Album)

An extraordinary interpretation of Brahms' late piano solo works, performed by the underrated Japanese pianist Takahiro Sonoda. ※※※※※※※※※※ Takahiro Sonoda (1928-2004; kanji: 園田高弘), first enlightened by his father (a student of Robert Casadesus), studied under the Russian pianist Leo Sirota (Busoni lineage). In 1952, while studying in Europe, he received personal guidance from the French mentor Marguerite Long. In 1954, he served as the soloist for Karajan’s first visit to Japan; Karajan was deeply impressed and wrote a letter recommending him to pursue further studies in Germany. In 1959, his debut concert was performed in collaboration with the BPO. During his tours in Europe and America, audiences crowned him with the title “the Japanese Gieseking.” In 1960, he returned to Japan and devoted himself to music education, leaving recordings with Columbia/Denon and Adam Ace. In 1984, taking the opportunity of producing music education films, he founded his own record label Evica (which continued releasing albums under the Accustika label after 2003). In addition to releasing his own recordings, the label was also used to promote promising young musicians. Mr. Sonoda excelled in the German-Austrian repertoire, while also venturing into French and Russian schools. He had collaborated with Japanese modern composers (such as Toru Takemitsu and Joji Yuasa). His major recordings include three complete sets of Beethoven piano sonatas (1960s studio, 1980s live, 1990s studio), two sets of Bach's major works, as well as significant works of Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, and others. ※※※※※※※※※※ 8 Klavierstucke, Op.76 0:00:00 1. Capriccio in F♯ minor 0:03:34 2. Capriccio in B minor 0:06:54 3. Intermezzo in A♭ major 0:09:14 4. Intermezzo in B♭ major 0:11:14 5. Capriccio in C♯ minor 0:14:15 6. Intermezzo in A major 0:17:47 7. Intermezzo in A minor 0:20:26 8. Capriccio in C major Phantasien, Op.116 0:23:39 1. Capriccio in D minor 0:26:03 2. Intermezzo in A minor 0:29:26 3. Capriccio in G minor 0:32:53 4. Intermezzo in E major 0:37:15 5. Intermezzo in E minor 0:40:00 6. Intermezzo in E major 0:43:13 7. Capriccio in D minor Drei Intermezzi, Op.117 0:45:49 1. Intermezzo in E♭ major 0:51:10 2. Intermezzo in B♭ minor 0:55:32 3. Intermezzo in C♯ minor 6 Klavierstucke, Op.118 1:01:20 1. Intermezzo in A minor 1:03:22 2. Intermezzo in A major 1:09:06 3. Ballade in G minor 1:12:58 4. Intermezzo in F minor 1:15:25 5. Romance in F major 1:20:01 6. Intermezzo in E♭ minor 4 Klavierstucke, Op.119 1:25:21 1. Intermezzo in B minor 1:29:25 2. Intermezzo in E minor 1:33:45 3. Intermezzo in C major 1:35:21 4. Rhapsody in E♭ major ※※※※※※※※※※ King International KKC-8856 [CD] Johannes Brahms 8 Klavierstucke, Op.76 Takahiro Sonoda / 園田 高弘 1993/4/14-15, Naginoki Kaikan Isada Hall Piano: Yamaha new CFIII Recording Engineer: Taku Sakurai / 櫻井 卓 (Original: Evica HTCA-1005) ——— King International KKC-8857 [CD] Johannes Brahms Phantasien, Op.116 Drei Intermezzi, Op.117 Takahiro Sonoda / 園田 高弘 1997/4/11-15, Naginoki Kaikan Isada Hall Piano: Yamaha new CFIII Recording Engineer: Taku Sakurai / 櫻井 卓 (Original: Evica HTCA-1021) ——— King International KKC-8858 [CD] Johannes Brahms 6 Klavierstucke, Op.118 4 Klavierstucke, Op.119 Takahiro Sonoda / 園田 高弘 2001/8/24-26, Hans Rosbaud Studio (Baden-Baden) Piano: Steinway Recording Engineer: Taku Sakurai / 櫻井 卓 (Original: Evica HTCA-1032)