I've been refraining from contributing to this thread, because I'm in the
middle of a review project of recordings of the Variations on a Theme by
Handel.  However, I just read a posting praising Emanuel Ax's Brahms
recordings and wanted to chime in with a different opinion.

I like Ax in recordings he's done of Mozart piano concertos and Haydn
piano sonatas, but I find his Handel Variations among the worst on record.
His performance is quite linear; diversity is low as well as any lift to
his interpretations - the results are ordinary.

I do second the high opinions expressed about Katchen and Schnabel.
Although not one of the great discs of the 20th century, readers might
want to look into a Brahms disc from pianist Lydia Artymiw on Chandos.
Essentially, she gives us the baroque side of Brahms.  In addition to the
Handel Variations, she plays the Sarabande in B minor, Suite in A minor,
and Six Chorale Preludes for Organ.  It's a 'theme' disc and very well
played.

Another fine Handel Variations comes from Misha Dichter on MusicMasters
which also has the Opus 39 Waltzes ahnd Opus 116 Fantasias.  One version
of this work to avoid is Awadagin Pratt's performance on EMI; he displays
little affinity with the Brahms soundworld.

As far as the best place to start with the Brahms solo piano works, I'd go
first with the piano sonatas and work up chronologically.  At any rate, the
Handel Variations is a great creation with many versions to choose from.

Don Satz