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