Pathbreaker I have heard the first movement slower but it's marked allegro so Brahms intended it to go at a decent clip! I have also heard it start slower and then slowly speed up. I probably won't go listen to the Domus recording right away but I'll let you know if I do! The violinist suggested finding a violist and cellist and performing at a house concert but I said no. I don't think I'll ever be ready for a real performance of this piece and after tomorrow it's time to put it behind me, even though it wasn't really "done" (there is page in each of the first and third movements that were just not ready at all, and thankfully we're not performing them). I really appreciate your compliments, especially as someone who knows the piece ๐
Our coach is having us take huge breaths between sections of the Gypsy Rondo which are not marked at all so I guess it's stylistic choice! In the recordings I've heard, they just play it as written with no breaks. He told me to go as fast as possible leading into the Molto Presto at the end and then I'm literally playing as fast as I can go! Today I made so many mistakes because I was tired but he said it doesn't matter, at least it sounds exciting ๐
I don't know if I had mentioned this but our coach is playing the viola part! Having our coach in the group elevates our playing immediately and that's why I'm traveling all the way to Europe to take part in this workshop. There's a section in the first movement where piano and viola play together and I take a little time to add drama in that section and he hears it the exact same way and we're perfectly together! It is so magical. And the violin is supposed to lead at entry points but in the fourth movement she's not giving a good signal and is not in my sightline on the cramped stage platform, so our coach is going to lead. He adds so much direction and momentum to our playing in a way that telling us wouldn't.
Anyway, hopefully my nerves make me play better and not worse tomorrow! I brought my little Zoom video camera and hopefully the recording turns out. I can blur out the faces and share the video when I get home ๐
