Ilona Eibenschütz talks and plays: Reminiscences of Brahms (1952)

Ilona Eibenschütz (1873-1967), Hungarian/Jewish pianist, pupil of Clara Schumann (from 1885 to 1890). A great prodigy, she became a close friend and favourite pianist of Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), whom she first met in 1885 or 1886, and gave the world premiere of some of his piano works at his request. She formed a trio with Piatti and Joachim in London. Her career was short as she retired after her early marriage. Eibenschütz said of Brahms that he "played as if he were improvising, with heart and soul, sometimes humming to himself, forgetting everything around him. His playing was altogether grand and noble, like his compositions." During her reminiscences (broadcasted in 1952), she played some excerpts from Brahms's music: At 0:51 Trio in C minor opus 101, Second movement At 9:44 Ballade opus 10 no. 4 in B major (much, much faster than what is "normal" nowadays! Clara Schumann also criticized Eibenschütz because of her fast tempi in Brahms's opus 118 and 119).