Twenty years after his last Brahms disc, American pianist Murray Perahia has chosen to revisit this great composer’s works with a new recording featuring the great Handel Variations, Op.24, a work Perahia considers on a par with Bach’s Goldberg variations. Alongside this are key works from Brahms’ middle and late piano periods. The Two Rhapsodies, Op.79 from his middle period, form the centrepiece of the disk and are deeply Romantic. The album finishes with the introspective and autumnal Piano Pieces Opp.118 and 119, both from Brahms’ late period.

This is music of a mature composer performed by a pianist at the height of his powers. Murray Perahia has been an exclusive Sony Classical recording artist for almost 40 years, and is one of the most sought-after and cherished pianists of our time. He is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, with whom he has toured globally as conductor and pianist. In 2004 he was awarded an honorary KBE by Her Majesty The Queen, in recognition of his outstanding service to music.

Perahia’s previous recordings have garnered a Grammy Award and several nominations, a Gramophone Award and a BBC Music Magazine Award.

“His technique is beyond praise…He is, quite simply, one of the very few great pianists in the world…” - International Record Review

“A prince amongst pianists” - Financial Times