A few years ago, the Argentinean pianist Daniel Levy made a number of CDs for the short-lived Italian label Edelweiss, after which his recordings completely disappeared from stores. Both label and pianist seem now to be trying a comeback with the release of these Brahms recordings. Despite the presence on the podium of the prestigious German singer and Lied specialist Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the First Concerto sounds at best like a correct sight-reading. The famous retired baritone doesn’t show any particular ability as a conductor: the Philharmonia plays heavily and sloppily, with slow, erratic, unsteady tempos and a flabby sonority that is to orchestral sound what chewing gum is to gourmet food tasting. Pianist Daniel Levy’s prosaic, cautious, and soupy playing doesn’t make things better. As a filler, he plays Brahms’ arrangement for left hand alone of Bach’s Chaconne for violin solo in D minor. Here again, Levy misses the point, his generic, monochromatic tone and earthbound articulation failing to recreate the multi-layered magic of the original. If you like this piece and beautiful piano playing, then Leon Fleisher is your man. Edelweiss’ sonics are flat and undistinguished, placing the piano too much in the foreground in the concerto.
