Richard Goode Performs Mozart

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is a spectacular program devoted to Mozart's solo piano music that, frankly, reminds the listener of very little of Mozart's other solo piano music. The A minor Sonata is a troubling work: nervous and unsettled in the first movement, seemingly relaxed in the Andante which then takes an unexpectedly dark turn, and with a finale which defines "anxious." The Rondo, K. 511, is one of Mozart's most gorgeous--and saddest--works, a 10-minute meditation. A little minute-and-a-half gigue is Bachian; the March, K. 408, is brief and melodic, and the concluding Sonata, K. 533 in F Major, is at first a contrapuntal challenge, then a seeming improvisation, and lastly a dainty start with a theatrical finish. Richard Goode, one of the least sentimental pianists on the planet, still manages to get all of the composer's emotional points and changes across vividly--this is playing of the highest order. A must for any collection. --Robert Levine

Tracks:

I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante Cantabile
III. Presto
March In C Major, K. 408
Courante In E-Flat Major K. 399
Gigue In G Major, K. 574
Rondo In A Minor, K. 511
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegretto

Amazon.com

This is a spectacular program devoted to Mozart's solo piano music that, frankly, reminds the listener of very little of Mozart's other solo piano music. The A minor Sonata is a troubling work: nervous and unsettled in the first movement, seemingly relaxed in the Andante which then takes an unexpectedly dark turn, and with a finale which defines "anxious." The Rondo, K. 511, is one of Mozart's most gorgeous--and saddest--works, a 10-minute meditation. A little minute-and-a-half gigue is Bachian; the March, K. 408, is brief and melodic, and the concluding Sonata, K. 533 in F Major, is at first a contrapuntal challenge, then a seeming improvisation, and lastly a dainty start with a theatrical finish. Richard Goode, one of the least sentimental pianists on the planet, still manages to get all of the composer's emotional points and changes across vividly--this is playing of the highest order. A must for any collection. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Glorious Mozart.......2006-11-10

Richard Goode is absolute perfection in this very special CD of some little 'gems' of Mozart. He is very sensitive to the delicacy of the music he has chosen for this CD and I was spellbound whilst listening to the entire disc. His delivery of the Gigue in particular is nothing short of 'ecstasy'.

Typical.......2006-05-16

As with most pianists who seem to be oblivious to the rediscoveries of the "period" movement, Goode plays the two Andante movements as if they were intended to be played at a deathly slow tempo. But we've known for years that andante doesn't mean slow, and the andante movements are thereby disfigured by Mr Goode, who should by now know better. Any competent pianist can play the allegro movements acceptably; it's in the other sections that the artist is exposed, and Goode fails through sheer (wilful?) ignorance. A pity, because the piano sounds nice, and the pianist refrains from the posturing that disfigures too many recordings where the musician feels obliged to "give us something of him/herself" - and what they give is is invariably uninteresting, and always at the expense of the composer.

A Mozart Connoisseur's Mozart.......2006-03-03

Richard Goode is a selfless performer. Not that he has no style or presence at the piano for he has these in abundance. It is simply that he places the composer and the music first instead of drawing attention to his own 'interpretation' and in doing so he gives us probably the most poignant and true readings of the composers he elects to play.

Mozart is a perfect example of this approach. In this thoroughly delightful and impeccably recital Goode has selected rather unknown Mozart works and performs them with élan. The Piano Sonata in A minor, K 310 and in F major, K. 533 are enigmatic works to most pianists: the moods and turns of each are unpredictable and surprising and call upon the musician's sense of architecture to make them succeed. In Goode's hands these potential difficulties are not obvious, so clear is the manner in which he approaches the works.

The recital is fleshed out by some nice works of interest, crowned by one of the most elegant and mournful renderings of the Rondo for piano No. 3 in A minor, K. 511 this listener has ever heard. This relatively short (ten minutes) work is in itself worth purchasing this CD. And that is typical of Richard Goode, delicately placing Mozart jewels quietly at our feet, reminding us of the quality of the master of melody. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, March 06

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