Variationen und Fuge über ein Thema von Händel, Op. 24
Fantasien, Op. 116
Choralvorspiele, Op. 112

The Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel op. 24 in B flat major arguably represent, alongside his F minor Sonata op. 5, the most significant piano work by Brahms. Moreover, following the tradition of Johann Sebastian Bach (Goldberg Variations) and Ludwig van Beethoven (Diabelli Variations), they are one of the most significant sets of variations in the keyboard repertoire, showing Brahms at the height of his brilliance. The theme (Aria) is taken from the first suite of the second collection of George Frideric Handel’s Suites de pieces pour le clavecin (1733), HWV 434. This unostentatious, somewhat cantabile, playful theme is followed by 25 variations and a fugue that collectively present what might be described as a compendium of Brahms’s wide-ranging expressive powers.

There has been much speculation as to why Johannes Brahms wrote an organ work, the Eleven Chorale Preludes op. 122 (posth.), towards the end of his life. Indeed, the composer’s oeuvre contains very few compositions for organ.

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Recording :15.- 17.09.2017, Immanuelskirche Wuppertal. Played on Steinway & Sons D-604 201.