Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft

Gilels had immense physical power and impeccable control, but he was also capable of exquisitely refined poetry and had an acute perception of the lyrical impulse lying behind even the most assertive of Brahms's writing. The firmness of attack and the depth of sound that make his (and the Berlin Philharmonic's) playing so thrillingly dynamic can be offset by the most poignant of delicate gestures. There is undeniable grandeur to these readings, but with those additional qualities of wise thinking, generous expression and artistry of great subtlety, these performances are in a class of their own.

Titanic performances that underline the structural integrity of these massive works, but also alive to their poetic heart.

Eine sehr grundtonhafte, energiereiche Aufnahme mit einem Klangbild zum Hineingreifen -- und einem Solisten (Emil Gilels), der selbst ein Forte der Berliner Philharmoniker noch zu überdonnern vermag.

Un style minéral d'une rare probité. Gilels et Jochum déploient une intelligence constructiviste, un lyrisme décanté et une magistrale plasticité.

Gilels et Jochum optent dans le 1er pour un maelström sonore impressionnant de puissance. Ils savent également trouver les lignes de fuite embrumées du 2e et en recréent la lyrique sans en sacrifier les rythmes allčgres.