‘Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 & Three Intermezzi Op. 117‘ with Francesco Piemontesi, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Manfred Honeck is due for release in September 2025 on PENTATONE.
Francesco Piemontesi has lived and breathed Brahm’s Piano Concertos for the past 20 years. In this new recording of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2, the concerto transcends the traditional form, blending symphonic grandeur with virtuosic brilliance and moments of intimate chamber-like dialogue between piano and orchestra. Piemontesi’s sensitive playing and Honeck’s precise, passionate leadership create a richly detailed and moving interpretation of one of Brahms’s greatest masterpieces. Alongside the concerto are Brahms’ three introspective Intermezzi, Op. 117.
Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 will be released in 2026.
“In the Leipzig Gewandhaus, the organ facade bears an inscription: Res severa verum gaudium—“True joy is a serious matter.” That, to me, perfectly captures the essence of Brahms’s music as well. It is not casual entertainment, not background music. But for those who truly engage with it, the reward is immense: music that allows you, for a moment, to forget the world”
Francesco Piemontesi
DIGITAL RELEASE DATE: 19th September 2025
PHYSICAL RELEASE DATE: September 2025
