The Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 34b is best known in its iteration as the legendary F minor Piano Quintet. Notoriously a perfectionist, Brahms made multiple versions of this composition (as in the preceding work on today’s program): it began as a string quintet in 1862, then was destroyed and transformed into this two-piano sonata (performed by Brahms and virtuoso pianist Karl Tausig) before attaining its final version as a piano quintet. Brahms’ Piano Quintet is universally considered a masterpiece and “often called the crown of his chamber music” (according to Jan Swafford’s biography). 

We are passionate about the two-piano version because the piano duo dynamic underscores the striking duality of the piece: not only are the two pianos dueling, but a variety of opposing forces are at work throughout this epic sonata: the tensions between major and minor, hope and despair, light and darkness, good and evil. The Scherzo movement (featured today) stands out as demonic in character and execution; it is one of those adrenaline rushes that tests the technical control and pacing of the pianists. We like to say that this is the movement where Brahms turns the intensity level up to an 11 (to quote Spinal Tap).

— Greg Anderson & Elizabeth Joy Roe