Alfred Brendel, The Farewell Concerts

Alfred Brendel (piano) Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Charles Mackerras Decca 478 2116 (2 CDs) *****

Alfred Brendel's final appearances were not originally planned for CD. These recordings of the great man's last concerto performance (of Mozart's Concerto in E flat, K271, in Vienna) and recital (of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert in Hanover), were made for radio, and Brendel only consented to microphones in Hanover at the last minute.

He seems pleased at the outcome, and there’s a reserve and wisdom in the playing for everyone to cherish. Brendel has always seemed to me to find a naturalness of expression in concert that was not as readily at his command in the studio. And, although his programme is full of familiar names, the pieces themselves are full of surprises. www.deccaclassics.com