THE PLAYLIST: ALFRED BRENDEL

A great pianist is about to play his last note in public--but the recordings will live on. Richard Morrison chooses Brendel’s best ...

From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, Autumn 2008

Self-taught, prodigiously intellectual and utterly devoid of razzle or dazzle, Alfred Brendel has nevertheless sustained one of the great musical careers. Now, at 77, he is retiring. He'll be remembered for profound, beautiful and cogent interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Haydn and Brahms. And also for the humour twinkling behind his professorial visage and well-tempered pianism. His favourite occupation, he once said, is laughing. Here are eight essential recordings, all on Philips.

FIVE PIANO CONCERTOS BEETHOVEN
With Simon Rattle and the Vienna Philharmonic in glorious support, Brendel captures the 18th-century wit of the first three concertos, the lyricism of No 4 (especially in the otherworldly slow movement), and the majestic Romantic sweep of the "Emperor". You'll never need another recording of a Beethoven piano concerto.

PIANO CONCERTOS K466, 491 MOZART
Witty, lithe, elegant readings of two of Mozart's most sublime concertos, with the excellent Scottish Chamber Orchestra directed by another tireless veteran--Sir Charles Mackerras.

SONATA IN B MINOR LISZT
A heroic test of any pianist's technique, imagination and musicality. Brendel makes every note in this epic piece sound inevitable. On no other recording can you follow so clearly the continuous evolution of Liszt's themes.

TROUT QUINTET SCHUBERT
Another collaboration, another meeting of kindred spirits. This time Brendel's associates include the honey-toned violinist Thomas Zehetmair, and the result is a performance of inspiring impetus and warmth.

PIANO SONATAS, OPP 109, 110, 111 BEETHOVEN
For a taste of Brendel's magisterial approach to Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, try this 1996 recording of the final three. Music that often sounds unfathomably enigmatic is made crystal-clear. Brendel draws the listener irresistibly into Beethoven's world.

SECOND PIANO CONCERTO BRAHMS
Massive 19th-century warhorse superbly interpreted by Brendel at his most intense. The Berlin Philharmonic and Claudio Abbado add to the splendour of a performance that somehow manages to be both intellectually compelling and ethereally poetic.

WINTERREISE SCHUBERT
Brendel's late-flowering artistic partnership with the young German baritone Matthias Goerne produced this riveting account of Schubert's hauntingly sad song-cycle--the winter's journey of a spurned lover to his lonely death. Recorded live at an unforgettable concert in the Wigmore Hall in 2003.

COMPLETE WORKS FOR PIANO AND CELLO BEETHOVEN
Probably the disc that gave Brendel the greatest personal satisfaction: a joyous, affectionate collaboration with his talented cellist son, Adrian. And it's a true meeting of equals, too--not a masterclass from Dad.

Brendel's final tour ends at Musikverein, Vienna, on December 18th

IMAGE SOURCE: Raoul Pazzi/flickr

The Playlist is a regular feature of Intelligent Life magazine. See our picks for rock music, romance and Leonard Cohen.

(Richard Morrison is chief music critic of the Times. His last contribution to Intelligent Life was "The Visual CV: Daniel Barenboim" in the Winter 2007 issue.)