François-Frédéric Guy - Brahms: Complete Piano Sonatas (2016) [5.1 Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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CD1
01. Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: I. Allegro non troppo (Ma energico)
02. Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: II. Andante con espressione
03. Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: III. Scherzo (Allegro)
04. Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: IV. Finale (Sostenuto-Allegro non troppo e rubato)
05. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: I. Allegro
06. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: II. Andante
07. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: III. Scherzo (Allegro molto e con fuoco)
08. Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1: IV. Finale (Allegro con fuoco)

CD2
01. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5: I. Allegro maestoso
02. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5: II. Andante (Andante espressivo)
03. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5: III. Scherzo (Allegro energico)
04. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5: IV. Intermezzo (Andante molto)
05. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5: V. Finale (Allegro moderato ma rubato)

Brahms, a diligent musician, was known for his dedication to precise, robust counterpoint and innovative rhythms. Guy infuses Brahms’ delicate intersecting lines and massive harmonic textures with the full range of the composer’s emotions, from the regal to the violent. The first piano sonata is stately and vigorous, its opening chords ringing out like the bells of an idyllic and pastoral German church. Guy also excels in teasing out the playfulness and precision of the “Scherzo” in the second sonata, perfectly evoking the two sides of Brahms: the powerful and the sentimental.

French pianist François-Frédéric Guy developed an interest in classical music from imitating his amateur father's playing. Guy made his debut in 1999 with the Orchestre de Paris in a performance of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch, and since then he has worked with Bernard Haitink, Paavo Berglund, Daniel Harding, Philippe Jordan, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Edward Gardner. His repertoire extends from Classical to contemporary works, though he focused his attention on the 32 Piano Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven, which he performed in a series of recitals at the Berlioz Festival of La Côte-Saint-André and in Rio de Janeiro, and recorded for Zig Zag Territoires. Since 2013, he has performed with Pablo González and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Fabien Gabel and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Michail Jurowski and the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Philippe Jordan with the Tonhalle-Orchester in Zürich. Guy is an artist-in-residence at the Arsenal Concert Hall in Metz, France.