Brahms, Brahms and Spam

Johannes Brahms, in heavy rotation

OK, so it wasn't so much Brahms as to suggest parody, but the timing of the two Brahms programs on Sunday (our Kremer/Zimerman recital at Jordan and the Borromeo and Jupiter Quartets at the Gardner Museum) made it impossible for Boston Globe classical music critic Jeremy Eichler to hear all of both recitals. But he made a valiant effort, which deserves mention. Mr. Eichler said of Gidon Kremer's performance:

"True to form, his Brahms on Sunday was unlike any rendition I had heard before. These works are often played with a generous, juicy tone and a loving indulgence in the music's heartfelt lyricism. Kremer, by contrast, played them with a focused, wiry tone and his typical allergy to schmaltz."

Read all of Glimpsing two faces of Brahms.