Wilhelm Backhaus was 83 years young when he committed this outstanding Brahms Second Concerto to disc in 1967 (the Mozart dates from 12 years earlier). Karl Böhm was merely a spry 71, and in a particularly happy stage of his long career–his exceptional recordings of Bruckner’s Third and Fourth Symphonies date from the same general period, and the Vienna Philharmonic was playing with that special combination of warmth and effortless accuracy that so easily becomes slackness under a less disciplined baton. The results deserve their classic status. Backhaus plays without a trace of showmanship, but with unfailing insight. His ability to illuminate the music’s inner lines and the clarity of his voice-leading in the Brahms concerto’s slow movement leads the listener through this immensely lengthy work with sovereign ease. This performance really flows, as does the Mozart coupling, though here the Vienna Phil had not quite the luster it was to acquire later. Excellently remastered, this well filled CD presents the work of a master pianist placing his art completely in the service of the music. Unassuming, maybe, but so satisfying!
