“It is not every day that Brahms sounds so perfect as this,” enthuses the Kurier newspaper, describing Buchbinder’s performance with the Vienna Philharmonic. The “phenomenal piano virtuoso” (Kurier) plays the First and Second Piano Concertos of Johannes Brahms in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. On the rostrum is maestro Zubin Mehta, no less, who has long been intensively associated both with the orchestra and with soloist Rudolf Buchbinder.

At times tenderly persuasive, then raging powerfully or luxuriating in melancholy – Brahms’s piano concertos constantly demand from the pianist a wide range of interpretational refinement alongside a very high level of concentration and considerable technical skill. A challenge which old hand Rudolf Buchbinder easily achieves: “Buchbinder’s tour de force earned him cheers” (Die Presse).

In the Andante to Piano Concerto No. 2 Petèr Somodari’s cello solo provided “wonderfully bright” moments (Der Standard), rounding off a concert of superlative standard. “What Rudolf Buchbinder, the Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Zubin Mehta delivered at the Musikverein easily deserves the accolade ‘milestone’.” (Kurier)