Miniature marvels

Michael Houstoun plays Brahms’ small masterpieces of poetic reflection.

- ELIZABETH KERR

Michael Houstoun expresses his love of piano sound from the opening bars of his latest album, lingering gently on the melody and accompanying chords. Houstoun and producer Kenneth Young selected the album’s 18 intermezzi by Johannes Brahms from the composer’s Opus 76, and his Op 116-119.

These miniatures for solo piano were mostly written near the end of Brahms’ life and show the composer in poetic and reflective moods, his ardours and sorrows under the surface.

Houstoun calls the music introspective, suggesting “it fits more easily with an older player’s psyche”. Appropriately, Rattle released the album to mark Houstoun’s recent 70th birthday.