Mozart: Piano Concertos #9 & 18 - Leif Ove Andsnes

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This record is a total delight: two irresistible Mozart concertos, one famous, one unfamiliar, played with the technical, musical and stylistic perfection that performers never cease to strive for but very rarely achieve. No. 9, written in 1777, was the first of Mozart's large-scale, truly "great" concertos. Innovative in form, it opens not with the usual orchestral exposition, but a brief interchange between soloist and orchestra that sets the stage for its conversational character. In the C minor slow movement, the piano sings a heart-breaking lament of an aria while the orchestra comments with often wrenchingly dissonant sighs. The sprightly, exuberant Finale harbors another surprise. Its middle section is a Minuet of beguiling beauty and wistful grace. No. 18, written in 1784, is basically conventional, but also full of surprises, notably in its daring modulations to distant tonalities. The slow movement in G minor is another mournful operatic aria, while the Finale is a set of increasingly ornate variations. Andsnes' playing is quite extraordinary. He follows Mozart through all his swiftly changing moods and emotions, bringing out the music's stately nobility, gracious courtliness, ironic humor, drama and tragedy without a trace of artificiality or exaggeration. He uses Mozart's own wonderfully inventive, sparkling cadenzas, which adds to the feeling of authenticity. The piano tone is light, crisp and clear, but so variable in touch, articulation and nuance that it never sounds dry. The transitions and changes of tempo and character are poised and natural, the rhythms buoyant and supple. The phrasing is impeccable and has the spontaneous flow of human speech. The orchestra plays with sparing vibrato but lots of color and expression; its tone blends with the piano's admirably, cushioning and vitalizing the solo part. One can easily imagine Mozart sitting at the keyboard in close rapport with the musicians, basking in the audiences' enjoyment and smiling with pure pleasure. --Edith Eisler

Mozart: Piano Concertos #9 & 18 - Leif Ove Andsnes, Music, Leif Ove Andsnes, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Classical, Classical Composers, Concerto, Orchestral & Symphonic, Piano Concerto

Average customer rating:

cherry picking

Brendel and Marriner play Mozart at a bargain price

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1 Alfred Brendel

Mozart's great piano concertos, Vol 1 and Vol 2

great pianist, great price, bad track listing

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Marriner, Sir Neville | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

Mozart: Violin Concertos

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

Chopin: Favorite Piano Works

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

ASIN: B000004194
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 19 In F, KV 459: Allegro Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F, KV 459: Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F, KV 459: Allegro Assai
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, KV 466: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, KV 466: Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, KV 466: Allegro Assai
Rondo In D, KV 382: Allegretto Grazioso
Rondo In D, KV 382: Adagio
Rondo In D, KV 382: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A , KV 488: Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: Allegro assai
Piano Concerto #21 In C, KV 467: Allegro
Piano Concerto #21 In C, KV 467: Andante
Piano Concerto #21 In C, KV 467: Allegro Vivace Assai
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, KV 491: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, KV 491: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, KV 491: Allegretto
Rondo In A, KV 386

Customer Reviews:

cherry picking.......2007-02-15

Pity Alfred Brendel, Neville Marriner, and the incomparable Academy of St Martin in the Fields having to play this luscious span of concertos from the sweet spot of Mozart's oeuvre.

If there is sweeter music in the universe, it must lie at the depths of the sea or some equally inaccessible place, far from eyes and ears that could compare it to Mozart's piano concertos no. 19-24.

Mozart's piano concerti, perhaps more than those of any other composer, shape the solo instrument's phrasing so that its entrances and exits vis-à-vis the orchestral score are nearly seamless. Brendel and his supporting cast perform this aspect of the music as well as can be done.

In the stellar Philips Classics 'Duo' series, this recording may well reign supreme. It's as good as it gets.

Brendel and Marriner play Mozart at a bargain price.......2006-08-18

Philip's two double-CD sets of Alfred Brendel and Neville Marriner performing a total of ten of Mozart's great piano concertos, plus two rondos for piano and orchestra, must rate as one of the best of many bargains available in their "2 for 1" series. The four CDs add up to close to five hours of music, most of it essential listening for anyone interested in Mozart, great piano music, and great concertos.

This first of the two sets contains four indisputable masterpieces. In the stormy D minor Concerto K. 466, Brendel springs a mild surprise by playing his own cadenzas rather than Beethoven's, the ones most often used. I must confess to preferring Beethoven's unstylish but dramatic and imaginative cadenza to the first movement, but otherwise the performance is beyond reproach. Brendel adds some discreet and entirely appropriate ornamentation to the many repetitions of the second movement's main theme. The Olympian C major K. 467, with its incomparably beautiful slow movement, also receives some much-needed decoration: here the cadenzas are by Radu Lupu and are a bit quirkier than necessary. Although the soloist's tone and phrasing in the wistful K. 488 are ravishing in the first two movements, the starker phrases of the F-sharp minor Adagio are better left undecorated--for once Brendel's practically unerring sense of propriety in added ornamentation goes slightly off. In my opinion the best of a superb set of performances is that of the C minor, K. 491: Brendel and Marriner catch every nuance of tragedy while never slighting the grace of the music--the problem of writing an appropriate first-movement cadenza, difficult since Mozart left none of his own, is brilliantly solved here by the soloist.

Although in a set billed as Mozart's "Great Piano Concertos" I might have opted, narrowly, for including K. 453 in G major over K. 459, it cannot be denied that all involved seem perfectly attuned to the quicksilver energy and unexpected contrapuntal intricacies of the F major work. The two additional rondo movements, one a lightweight replacement for the original finale of Mozart's very first original piano concerto, the other a possible alternate finale to his earlier A major Concerto K. 414, are a delightful bonus. Incidentally, although the splitting of K. 488 across two generously filled CDs is an annoyance, timing restrictions would not have permitted cramming three complete concertos onto one CD as another review suggests.

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1 Alfred Brendel.......2006-07-10

Nice interpretation of Mozart's piano concerto.

Mozart's great piano concertos, Vol 1 and Vol 2.......2006-07-10

We love Mozart. Especially his piano concertos. We purchased these volumes, because we wore out our cassette tapes.
Mozart piano concertos performed by Arthur Brendel and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, It does not get much better than that. 5 hours of music as a very reasonable price!

I even ordered a second set to give to a friend.

great pianist, great price, bad track listing.......2006-02-16

Alfred Brendel is one of the world's most famous pianists, but not for reasons that make Argerich, Paderewski, or Rubinstein famous. Brendel is an expert both artistically and technically but he is not given to highly individualistic interpretations that rattle purists and create controversy. In other words, Brendel is a highly reliable pianist. Like Murray Perahia, there are no let downs in his recorded performances. For this and the price, no one should pass up this 2 disc recording.

The only downside is the recording's track listing. Piano Concerto No. 23 is split: its first movement is in the first disc while its last two movements are in the second. Bewildering especially since the piano concertos are not sequenced chronologically. And the insert doesn't help. It does not explain the track arrangement (is it by the year of recording? by importance in Mozart's ouvre?). Nonetheless, there it is, Piano Concerto No. 23 separated into two cds. Why this has to be is difficult to understand. The first movement, allegro, is 11.04 minutes long; in the second disc, a one movement rondo, Rondo in A, KV 386, is 8.32 minutes long. Why wasn't this rondo placed in the first disc to allow a seamless playing of Piano Concerto No. 23?

This is annoying if your player does not support multiple disc playing. I bought this 2 cd set specifically for Piano Concerto No. 23, whose second movement I love. It is one of the most sublime of piano adagios, up there with the second movements of Chopin no. 1, Rachmaninoff no. 2, Shostakovich no. 2. And I bought it specifically for Brendel's performance with the ASMITF, conducted by Neville Marriner. Brendel really makes the piano weep here. His evocations of a human's cycle of grief and redemption make the performance definitive for Piano Concerto No. 23. If the split won't bother you, do yourself a favor and get a copy.

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2 Alfred Brendel
Marvelous Mozart
Artistic Genius
Almost Perfect
Penguin Guide "Recommended Recording"

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
Mozart: Violin Concertos
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque
Mozart: Symphony Nos.25, 26, 27, 29 & 32

ASIN: B0000041AB
Release Date: 1994-10-11

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.9 In Flat, KV 271 (Jeunehomme): 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No.9 In Flat, KV 271 (Jeunehomme): 2. Andantino
Piano Concerto No.9 In Flat, KV 271 (Jeunehomme): 3. Rondeau. Presto
Piano Concerto No.25 In C, KV 503: 1. Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No.25 In C, KV 503: 2. Andante
Piano Concerto No.25 In C, KV 503: 3. Allegretto
Piano Concerto No.22 In E Flat, KV 482: 1. Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat, KV 482: 2. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat, KV 482: Allegro - Andante cantabile - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat, KV 450: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat, KV 450: 2. (Andante)
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat, KV 450: 3. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat, KV 595: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat, KV 595: 2. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat, KV 595: 3. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2 Alfred Brendel.......2006-07-10

Nice interpretation of Mozart's piano concerto.

Marvelous Mozart.......2006-06-29

Alfred Brendel's place as an interpreter of the Viennese Classic repertory is by now unassailable, and his recordings of the Mozart Piano Concertos are a prime example of his art. His lean, focused sound can strike a listener as insufficiently sensuous in Romantic repertory, but against the backdrop of an orchestra, it seems a perfect modern equivalent of the eighteenth-century fortepiano, so much so that I don't really miss having an "authentic" instrument. Besides, discarding recordings such as these on the basis of inauthenticity would deny all listeners the chance to experience Brendel's practically infallible sense of style and taste.

Perhaps the real surprise in this collection of five concertos is that Brendel is at his most relaxed and insightful in the E-flat major Concerto, K. 482, which in most critical canons occupies a slightly lower place than the works which come before and after it. Mozart's warm-hearted and colorfully orchestrated (clarinets instead of the usual oboes) piece brings out an equivalent and unexpected playfulness of dynamic and rhythm in the pianist's irresistible reading, with profuse but always appropriate ornamentation in the rondo, and intriguing, stylish original cadenzas for the first and last movements. Incidentally, the same virtues hold for all of Brendel's emendations to Mozart's original notes in these pieces; in this he is decidely superior to Ashkenazy in his Mozart concerto recordings. (The one drawback of this entire set is that the inclusion of five concertos necessitates splitting K. 482 between the first and second CDs.)

It is only by these exalted standards that the performances of K. 271, the dashing "Jeunehomme," pushing the boundaries of standard concerto form with its unexpected piano interjections at the outset, and the Olympian K. 503 come off as slightly stiffer and less attuned to the finest nuance; however, the latter performance was recorded live and astonishes with its digital clarity, the concluding roar of applause being amply justified.

Brendel's collaborators, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields with Neville Marriner, supply exemplary accompaniments, notwithstanding some slight inaccuracies in the live K. 503 and, more surprisingly, K. 595. One hopes these recordings will be available for a long time to come.

Artistic Genius.......2006-05-31

Mozart is rightly hailed as a musical genius. Some say he was the best that ever was. I personally prefer Bach and baroque organ fugues but this CD is a good argument for the Mozart partisans.

In the first place, the compositions are excellent. Mozart was a genius and it shows. In the second place, the performances preserved here are exquisite. The recordings are clear and vibrant.

It is a first class album all around.

Almost Perfect.......2006-02-19

If you love Mozart you will really enjoy this CD. In my opinion Sir Neville Marriner & the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields performs Mozart better than any other. The only problem I have with this CD is some tracks on the first CD are recorded live. I have never been a big fan of live recordings. An occasional cough is heard on track 4 which makes me cringe. If only they passed out cough drops that evening I would have awarded this CD five stars. Otherwise the music is simply sublime. Robitussin anyone?

Penguin Guide "Recommended Recording".......2006-01-22

With his 27 piano concertos, Mozart developed the form to a new level of artistry and claimed dominion of the new musical genre. The first seven concertos resulted from early composition exercises from his father converting Baroque sonatas to concerto form (most not-so-special). The first truly-original piano concerto No. 5 was composed at age 17 and No.'s 14-27 are all considered mature and monumental with anything in the 20's truly magnificant. Even works as early as No. 9 "Jeunehomme" (composed for a female French student, Mlle. Jeunehomme, perhaps a love interest) reveal an uncharacteristic maturity, depth of beauty and perfection of form for such a young composer. While most of the 27 concertos are sunny and galante, the two minor-key concertos (No. 20 & 24 on Volume I) reveal Mozart's evolution into more personal, dramatic expression - foreshadowing the Romantic era ushered in part by Beethoven. However, by the late 1780's, the fickle Vieneese who were "so done" with his music, leading to Mozart's demise. Late in Mozart's life there appeared to be a "new phase" of introspection and simplicity as seen in the poignant last Concerto #27 (along with his last chamber works). But this was sadly cut short by his early death in 1791.

These readings by Brendel and Marriner are alive with enthusiasm, warmth, and the typical Brendel precision. The balance of the piano and orchestra is perfect and allow the drama to unfold unhindered. Along with Murray Perahia's and Andras Schiff's complete cycles, Brendel's performances of Mozart's piano concertos are considered - on the whole - to be at the top of the list overall. Highlights in Vol. II here must certainly be the simple beauty and chamber-like feel of Concerto No. 9 "Jeunehomme," the sparkling No. 22 (K.482) and the poignant "swansong" concerto, No. 27 (K. 595). Where volume II features these two more subdued concertos of immense tenderness (no timpani or trumpets), Volume I contains the powerfully emotive, crowd-pleasing D-minor and C-minor concertos No. 20, 24 - along with the famous and bubbly C-major concerto. Both volumes are essential listening, but that much might guide your first purchase if you can only get one set.

The six works on these two CD's (along with those of the sister set) are among the most skillfully composed, musically appealing and rightfully popular of Mozart's 27 piano concertos (hence the term, "Great Concertos"). Both sets received the highest Penguin Guide rating (Rosette) and are an official "Recommended Recording." Nice compliment. Additionally, Gramophone says "this set can be recommended without any reservations." The value and sound quality/balance are excellent (as with most all Philips DUO label CD's).

For those who like the sound of a Mozart-era fortepiano and more "period performances," there is a splendid 9-CD "complete" set of Mozart's piano concertos (no.'s 5-27) by Malcolm Bilson and the English Baroque Soloists w/ Sir John Gardiner conducting that is both top-notch music and a super value on DG. Also, if you are building a Mozart collection, many of these Philips' DUO sets are excellent choices and in the top-tier of quality: Great Serenades (Marriner), Piano Quartets (Beaux Arts Trio), Piano Trios (Beaux Art Trio), Violin concertos (Grumiaux), Violin Sonatas (Szeryng/Haebler), and Complete Quintets I, II (Grumiaux et al).

Average customer rating:

What Hath God Wrought?
World class music
I Wish Dennis Brain Had Been Born So That His Performing Powers Peaked in 1995
A Master Performs a Master
Mozart: Horn Concert

Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Horn Concertos
Brain
Mozart: Violin Concertos
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto & Oboe Concerto / Pay, Piguet, AAM, Hogwood
Great Recordings Of The Century - Brahms: Violin Sonatas nos 1 - 3 / Perlman, Ashkenazy

ASIN: B00000GCAD
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

Horn Concerto No.1 In D, K.412: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.1 In D, K.412: Rondo (Allegro)
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Allegro maestoso
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Andante
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Rondo
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Romance (Larghetto)
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Allegro moderato
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Romance (Andante)
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Rondo (Allegro vivace)
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Largo-Allegro moderato
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Larghetto
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Rondo (Allegro)

Customer Reviews:

What Hath God Wrought?.......2007-04-02

Well ...

If you're reading this, it's likely that you have already have already heard about Dennis Brain and in particular the famous passages where his rapid playing left a generation of listeners shaking their heads in astonishment.

This is how everyone first hears of him: a sort of circus act with lots of notes but without the great tone that distinguishes really good horn playing. This first impression is strengthened by stories about the strange, narrow-bore horn he played and by the sound of occasionally clipped staccato notes and a tight low range. As someone once said, "My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed!"

But in Brain's case as well as in Fitzwilliam Darcy's, closer acquaintance reverses the impression altogether.

At odds with the idea of frenetic speed, Brain produces some of the most sensitive phrase shaping you'll find in any musical recordings. His effortless mastery gives many passages a relaxed feeling that suggests he is playing them a third lower than written. His recordings of hornists' two signature pieces -- Strauss's first horn concerto and Mozart's third -- are both gentler than any other recording in the catalogue. He plays the Mozart third at a surprisingly slow tempo and turns the first page of the Strauss, which most players muscle up on, into a lullaby.

In the middle and upper ranges, Brain's tone, while unobtrusive, is so full and pure that many people say they have a tendency to block out everything else and just listen to that sound. That may not seem an asset for ensemble playing, but his accompaniment playing was wonderful and his reliability a huge asset for his colleagues. The expectation of perfection became so other-worldly that, on the inevitable day when Brain finally flubbed a passage in rehearsal, the always mischievous Sir Thomas Beecham stopped the orchestra, put his baton down, and just said, "Thank God."

Brain's trills, lip trills in particular, are uniquely clear, and at the end of the day, yes, there is that fabulously rapid articulation that leaves listeners wondering whether they were dreaming what they just heard.

This playing all emanated from a personality that was apparently of the utmost simplicity and modesty. Alan Civil had the last word on this forty years ago in his remembrance of Brain on the jacket of "The Art of Dennis Brain" album (Seraphim 60040, if you can find it). Brain's early, accidental death strikes one the same way as Beethoven's deafness does: a hint that higher forces are at play.

No, this is not a review of Brain's Mozart. It is an invitation to begin an acquaintance. Dig in!

World class music.......2007-01-10

By far the best rendition of the Mozart Horn Concertos ever produced. David Brain must be the "El Supremo" of horn playing. An added bonus on this CD is the Quintet in E flat for piano and wind and with Colin Horsley as the pianist is an added treat for New Zealanders. A "MUST HAVE" for all lovers of Mozart.

I Wish Dennis Brain Had Been Born So That His Performing Powers Peaked in 1995.......2006-05-17

I purchased The LP in 1953 and proceeded to 'wear it out.' No, I have not yet thrown it out.

However, I have had the good fortune to find myself a resident of the San Francisco Peninsula since 1970 and, in time, have had the privilege to make the acquaintance of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, who perform one of each of their annual subscription concert series locally here in Palo Alto.

In 1992 they recorded the Horn Concertos with Lowell Greer performing them on the natural (valveless) horn, the instrument which was in use at the time Mozart composed them. Given the temperamental nature of the the instrument, the recording is doubtless a composite of many 'takes.' It is also a breathtaking performance and is now my 'standard.' See:

[...]

Take a moment to listen to some of the available tracks.

Form your own opinion.

A Master Performs a Master.......2005-08-20

I'm not much of a classical music reviewer. I've been exposed to a lot of music, but I tend to stick to favorite performances, so I don't have the depth needed to really be authoritative. Except perhaps for oboe, and that's because I grew up listening to John De Lancie and Marcel Tabuteau - and once you hear really good, you know what's what. This album is a similar case. Dennis Brain wasn't a 'good' French horn player, he was probably the best that there ever was or will be.

I've heard a lot of performance horn players. All you have to do to see what I mean is to wander through this website and pick off performances of the first movement of Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat and you will discover that Brain never blurbles a note, and every attack in the Allegro Maestoso is pinpoint. He is technically and tonally perfect and couples that with a superb musical sensibility. It was one of the great musical tragedies that he died at the age of 36.

Something to keep in mind is that when Mozart wrote these works for his good friend (and cheesemonger) Joseph Leutgeb, the French horn was a very limited instrument. Many of the notes were reached by stopping the bell to some degree, which affected volume and intonation. Mozart wrote to take advantage of Leutgeb's expertise at this, and Dennis Brain chooses to maintain this effect rather than just play his modern instrument with no thought to the past.

These compositions cover a fair range of time. Number 2(K.417) is really the earliest (1783). And the incomplete No. 1 (K.412) is really the last (1791). The best though, in both my mind and Mozart's is the Quintet in E flat for piano & wind. Mozart was a master in using instrument groupings in novel and powerful fashion and this is no exception.

EMI has remastered this CD over their previous release, which enhances clarity, and makes it easier to hear Dennis Brain's considerable finesse. I own their first release and the difference in clarity makes it worth finding this edition. But even the duller production of the 1997 is enjoyable. It you want a good selection of Dennis Brain's work on one CD this is an excellent buy.

Mozart: Horn Concert.......2005-08-14

Great recordings of the century, and that is what it is.
Herbart von Karajan conducting, and Dennis Brain on horn tells it all; a wonderful rich music experience are waiting for you.
In my ears its probably one of the best recordings ever made of the horn concert. And even though its from the mid 50`s it comes in a wonderful remastered CD.
The CD comes with a very good booklet in English; telling the story behind the record.
I highly recommend this album

Average customer rating:

Mozart done right
remastered classic performances
The best complete set out there.
An Indispensible classic, plain and simple

Mozart: The Complete Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Arturo Toscanini: The Complete Philadelphia Orchestra Recordings 1941-42
Songs Without Words
Plays Schubert
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Liszt: Piano Works

ASIN: B000GLKLCK
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Customer Reviews:

Mozart done right.......2007-06-10

I have been listening to Perahia since the early 80s thanks to CBS Master Works Mozart Concerto lps. He has probably come close to recording these concertos twice. The biggest change I have seen in Perahia is that he has gone from looking totally mod (if that still is a word, especially the hair), to looking like a New York banker. Would life not be more fun if we went from the New York Banker look to totally mod as we neared our AARP years (that is what my dad did)? The music is still very enjoyable. I will just ditto the other 5 star comments.

Since Amazon does not provide a track listing, it is worth pointing out that none of the concertos are split over 2 cds. I know this is a niggly for some who find it irritating to have to change the disc to hear the remainder of the concerto. After the first couple of discs, there are 2 concertos per disc except the last that has PC #27 and Rondos K382 & K386. If they had done the splits there would be a few less discs in this set.

remastered classic performances.......2007-05-08

The performances on this 12 disc set have been praised since they were orginally issued in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. I have other complete sets and individual discs of these works, and I find myself returning to Perahia as my favorites. He has astounding tone and sense of rhythm, and the English Chamber Orchestra is in lock step with him throughout I am sure in part due to the fact that Perahia conducted them from the keyboard.

What makes this 2006 reissue even more special? First, Sony remastered all of the recordings using their Direct Stream Digital process and SBM direct. What this means is that the sound sparkles with a realism that was lacking before. In addition, the set is packaged in sturdy envelopes and a cardboard case that takes a little over an inch of shelf space. It saves you money, and takes up much less space that traditional jewel case require.

A legendary set, with recent technical improvements, at a great price.

Highest of recommendations!

The best complete set out there........2006-11-22

Sure, there are better performances of individual concertos - after all, Perahia is competing against a century of recorded legacy by legends such as Maria Yudina, Rudolf Serkin, Clifford Curzon, Robert Casadesus, and the immaculate Clara Haskil.
But what makes this set truly outstanding is the harmony between Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra. In this aspect only, this is one of the most beautiful concerto playing I have ever heard.
And of course, you have Perahia's pianism. Some may criticize him for lack of emotional content - but even his detractors can't deny that his cultivated tone is unrivaled. And come on, Perahia's playing does not lack emotional content or interpretive genius. I can't believe anyone would even try to level that argument against Perahia. Just listen to his performances on, for example, Schumann's Symphonic Etudes. His performance captures the sense of melancholy like no other.
I do agree, however, that on this Mozart concerto set one may find a lack of variance. This is the only problem I have with Perahia.. his tone is always so beautiful that it's analogous to Ella Fitzgerald - sometimes she had a hard time making us feel dirty or sad. Needless to say, there are poignant moments - but perhaps Alfred Brendel beats Perahia in sacrificing tone for interpretive brilliance.
Overall, however, this set is the best representation of Mozart's Piano concertos. Brendel's is, apart from being expensive, more inconsistent. I find Brendel more of a Beethoven pianist. Perahia, however, manages to leave behind 12 cd's that undoubtedly will remain one of the most divine, beautiful accounts of Mozart concertos for days to come.

An Indispensible classic, plain and simple.......2006-08-31

This new remastered edition gives this the best sound quality ever for these classic recordings . A must have at a resonable price.
Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Music!!
Sublime playing and excellent recording
Terrible waste of my $18.00
Beautiful Beethoven
My all time favorite...

Harp Concertos

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Harmonious Harp
Music for Solo Harp
The Tranquil Harp: Improvisations for Relaxation, Meditation, Integration
The Most Relaxing Harp Album in the World... Ever!
Great Works For Harp

ASIN: B0000041WI
Release Date: 1990-11-10

Tracks:

Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Andante - Allegro
Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Larghetto
Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Allegro moderato
Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Allegro biliante -
Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Andante lento
Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Allegro agitato
Harp Concerto: Allegro molto
Harp Concerto: Larghetto -- Dittersdorf
Harp Concerto: Rondeau: Allegretto -- Dittersdorf
Theme, Variations And Rondo pastorale
Variations for Harp
Six Variations on a Swiss Song

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Music!!.......2007-06-27

This CD is just beautiful. If you enjoy classical music and/or are looking for music to relax you after a busy day. This CD can help. I especially enjoy listening to this CD when you need to clean,cook it makes the task more enjoyable. (If you can call cleaning enjoyable)
It is great to listen to it when you are reading, having people over for dinner...anytime really.
I hope you like it as much as I have. Happy listening!

Sublime playing and excellent recording.......2007-05-17

I bought this for the Handel and was immediately taken with the clarity of tone and an overall crystalline ambiance to the sound. There isn't a slip up anywhere on this recording. The performance is clean and the balance is extraordinary especially considering the soft sound of the harp opposed by an orchestra. This was no problem for the engineers and I don't know of any other recording of Harp concerti that is as successful as this one.

First on the disc is the Handel and this concerto is pretty famous. It also exists as an organ concerto and both versions are valid. The organ sound is quite different than the harp so the 2 versions can almost sound like different works. Handel's writing is engaging, supple and energetic. He has never written an awkward phrase that I'm aware of. His music always has strong direction forward and is brilliantly logical. This is no exception and the rhythmic energy in the music seems rooted in a lively dance-like bounce. I was literally doing a boogaloo in my chair while grinning widely as the music played. Ha! This is great stuff!

The 2nd work on the disc is a Boieldieu concerto and it has characteristics more typical of the Romantic period. Probably the high point of this piece is the slow central movement. This is very beautiful music that has plenty of drama to offset the gentle tinkling of Robles' Harp. His use of diminished chords and moderate dissonance gives a more modern impression than the Handel or the Dittersdorf. (which follows it on the disc) The Rondo Finale uses a line that is at first dissonant and then resolves partly into a slightly unsettling minor chord. This is alternated over and over with contrasting material and perhaps the theme is a bit tiresome after all the returns. This is what a Rondo does though so you will know this theme thoroughly by the time the concerto ends.

Next on the CD is a Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf concerto that is an excellent work. This sweetly melodic concerto shows why he was an extremely popular composer who was lauded during his lifetime. I think this is one of his best efforts. It is easy to get into and the music has logic and beauty and will carry the listener easily along with it. Robles is at home in all three, exhibiting complete control of her complex instrument. The last 3 tracks are single movement bon bons of lesser importance, but that doesn't mean they aren't pleasurable to hear.

The only shortcoming I found was the liner notes. They are short and the information is misleading at times. I would expect a major label like London to check facts presented in the notes. The Theme, Variations and Rondo Pastorale is said to be attributed to Mozart. Instead of elaberating on that, the writer discusses another work not even on this disc and then gives an incorrect Kochel number for it. It took me a few minutes on the internet and a little sleuthing at home to discover the work "attributed to Mozart" is really by Eberl and the Rondo section is based on the Finale of Mozart's String Trio in Eb, K 563.
Of course the liner notes are not why someone buys a CD. If you like harp music in particular and enjoy well written concerti, you absolutely can not go wrong here. This is first class music all the way. Performance, sound, balance and content are all superior. At mid price, its a steal.

Terrible waste of my $18.00.......2007-04-01

This Cd was deceiving to me. I am so sorry that I bought it brand new!
I expected harp music and it was the classics so don't be fooled by the Harp on the cover because you hear very little Harp being played in the music. I would say 14% Harp all the rest fluffy classical music.

Beautiful Beethoven.......2007-03-28

Simply fantastic. Any classical music lover would love this CD. Beautiful pieces, beautifully and expressively performed. Harp with orchestra. I play this several times a week.
I have always loved harp music, am a harpist, and this is essential listening. Beyond that, the overall presentation is very well thought out, so that the whole effect is more than the individual (very fine) pieces.
I am amassing a little library of CDs with harp music, and taken as a whole, this is my favorite so far.

My all time favorite..........2002-03-15

I have loved Handel's harp concerto Op.4, No.6. There has been many recordings but this rendition has been my favorite. Thanks to listening chance through Amazon, I could stop my long journey of search for this version. The rendition of Iona Brown and Marisa Robles is a little bit faster than that of others, which worked very well. Of course, other harp pieces in this CD are great and beautiful as well.

Tracks:

Trumpet Concerto In E: 1. Allegro Con Spirito
Trumpet Concerto In E: 2. Andante
Trumpet Concerto In E: 3. Rondo
Trumpet Concerto In D: 1. Allegro Non Troppo
Trumpet Concerto In D: 2. Largo
Trumpet Concerto In D: 3. Vivace
Trumpet Concerto In D: 1. Allegro Non Troppo Presto
Trumpet Concerto In D: 2. Adagio
Trumpet Concerto In D: 3. Allegro Molto
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat, Hob. VIIIe:1: 1. Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat, Hob. VIIIe:1: 2. Andante
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat, Hob. VIIIe:1: 3. Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D: 1. Allegro Moderato
Trumpet Concerto In D: 2. Andante
Trumpet Concerto In D: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Trumpet Concerto In D: 1. Andante
Trumpet Concerto In D: 2. Allegro Moderato
Trumpet Concerto No. 1 In E Flat: 1. Allegro
Trumpet Concerto No. 1 In E Flat: 2. Adagio
Trumpet Concerto No. 1 In E Flat: 3. Vivace
Trumpet Concerto No. 1 In D: 1. Allegro
Trumpet Concerto No. 1 In D: 2. Adagio
Trumpet Concerto No. 1 In D: 3. Allegro
Trumpet Concerto No. 2 In C: 1. Adagio
Trumpet Concerto No. 2 In C: 2. Allegro Molto
Sonata In D For Trumpet, Two Violins And Continuo: 1. Grave
Sonata In D For Trumpet, Two Violins And Continuo: 2. Allegro
Sonata In D For Trumpet, Two Violins And Continuo: 3. Grave
Sonata In D For Trumpet, Two Violins And Continuo: 4. Allegro
Sonata In D For Trumpet, Two Violins And Continuo: 5. Allegro
Concerto In B Flat, Op. 7 No. 3: 1. Allegro
Concerto In B Flat, Op. 7 No. 3: 2. Adagio
Concerto In B Flat, Op. 7 No. 3: 3. Allegro
Adagio In G Minor
Trumpet Tune
Chorale Preludes: 'Erbarm Dich Mein, O Herre Gott' BWN 721
Chorale Preludes: 'Ich Ruf' Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ' BWV 639
Chorale Preludes: 'Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen' BWV 727
Ave Maria

Customer Reviews:

Virtuosic Trumpet: Baroque And Classical Showcase.......2004-02-22

This album is an incredible showcase for the trumpet and the orchestra, in other words, the trumpet concerto. Hakan Hardenberger, the featured trumpet player, is highly talented and at the top of his game. Even the great jazz and classical trumpeter Winston Marsalis does'nt seem to reach the flights of fancy on the trumpet as does Hakan Hardenberger. Hardenberger masters the trumpet to perfection, capturing every nuance and every tone, from fortissimo fanfares to the softest pianissimo. On this compilation are the trumpet concerti of Baroque and Classical Era composers, among them Corelli and Albinoni and the Classical masters Franz Joseph Haydn and Leopold Mozart, Mozart's father. The sheer scale and magnetism of this music cannot be neglected. It is the greatest gathering of trumpet concerti ever made. The trumpet was perhaps the most fascinating instrument for Baroque composers. The trumpet produces grand, triumphant tones when played forte. It was an instrument that was displayed in ceremonial pomp- weddings, coronations and marches. The Baroque composers were sponsored by kings so they were expected to compose music for trumpet, which could be expressive not only as a fanfare for the king himself, but as an instrument of many dynamics. It can be played softly and slowly, which seems to create a nocturnal, reflective mood and staccato and fast-paced which made the music sound exciting and lively. In my opinion, it was the premier instrument of the Baroque Age.

The cd opens with the Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Major by Johann Hummel. This colorful piece is particularily impressive as it really explores the dynamic potential for the trumpet. It's third movement, the Rondo, is very exciting music, as it is played very fast and in a bouncy, dance-like manner. The Trumpet Concerto by Stamitz, Hertel and Richter are very stylish and must have been highly admired in the Baroque Era. The Trumpet concerto in E by Franz Joseph Haydn, who influenced Mozart, is beautiful, especially in its serenade-style andante second movement. In the last cd, Leopold Mozart's trumpet concerto is featured, and it's a good work. Perhaps his son Mozart greatly admired it, though Mozart did'nt really expand on trumpet concerti himself nor really ever showcased the instrument greatly. There are trumpet arrangements for the famous Albinoni Adagio in G, which on this version, sounds chilling, dark and dramatic. The cd concludes with trumpet versions of Bach's Organ Preludes and the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria.

superb playing.......2003-10-30

Hardenberger is indeed an extraordinary. The playing is right up there with the best of them. One thing unique to hardnberger is his ability to lock in ever note of every passage reguardless of register, speed, etc. In addition he playes with great character. The only reason i give hims less than 5 stars is because his lyricism, the most important thing, is surpassed by Maurice Andre and Phil Smith without questiong. especially after seing all of them live and buying their CDs. He is definitely among the greatests ever.

The Best Trumpeter in the Business.......2003-05-25

It's a rare treat for a reviewer when he can throw caution to the winds and go out on a limb for a musician. This is such an occasion for me. Hakan Hardenberger is a phenomenon. I think he is the Babe Ruth, the Wayne Gretzky, the Michael Jordan, the Vladimir Horowitz, the Jascha Heifetz of trumpet players.

Hardenberger is a Swedish trumpeter who made his first recording (Haydn, Hummel, Hertel, and Stamitz trumpet concertos, with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields under Neville Marriner, on Philips) in 1986 when he was only 25 years old (in the cover photo of the original CD he looks like a boy). The first time I played this debut CD of his, my jaw dropped and I could hardly believe my ears. His playing was a revelation--absolutely stunning. I'd never heard trumpet playing to compare with it. In my opinion, with his first two CDs young Hardenberger not only moved into the top rank of trumpeters; he swept right past his competitors to the head of the class. I've compared a number of his baroque concerto performances, here and elsewhere, with those of other famous trumpeters, and he always comes out on top. I believe him to be in a league of his own. He has everything: virtuosity and technique to burn, dead-on intonation, clean trills, smooth legato, expressive shading, beauty of tone, brilliant high notes, enormous dynamic range. He is also a sound musician, with taste and a sense of style. His arsenal is complete and unassailable; there is no chink in his armor.

Everything that was on that debut CD is now in this Philips Duo set, which is a much better value, because it offers two generously filled CDs--72:55 and 78:27--for the price of one, adding most of the contents of two later Hardenberger CDs of baroque music for trumpet (the recordings here were made from 1986 through 1993). It's a good buy, and if you're going to own only one collection of baroque trumpet music, this is the one I'd recommend.

The trumpet has always been a difficult instrument to record and reproduce accurately. Here, although the consistently excellent digital recording presents Hardenberger very much front and center, it captures the timbre, "bite," and wide dynamic range of his trumpet with exemplary vividness and fidelity. On a top-quality playback system, he sounds like he's standing right between the speakers playing for you. And what playing it is! Not to be missed.

Hardenberger's second CD, of Telemann Trumpet Concertos, also accompanied by the ASMF, this time under Iona Brown, was recorded in 1987 (again on Philips). It too is marvelous, fully as impressive as his first CD, but unfortunately none of it is included in the Philips Duo reviewed here, so you have to acquire it separately. It's well worth it.

Long live the king!

Virtuosic... Incredible.......2001-08-06

You don't have to be a fan of the instrument in order to appreciate and become overwhelmed by the beauty, the splendor and acrobatics of the trumpet. In the Baroque era, it was a instrument for the royal treatment and heralded arrival of kings and war. The performances here are excellent- Hardenberger, I Musici and Neville Marriner and his orchestra deliver virtuosic renditions of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E flat, Hummel's, Hertel's, Molter's and Albinoni's concerti, as well as incredible arrangements of Ave Maria by Bach and Albinoni's Adagio.

A non-trumpet player's view..........2001-02-12

Although I love classical music and have done so for a long time, I must confess that I am not a trumpet player. With that said, I must say that these two CDs are wonderful. My first recording of the Hummel and the Haydn concertos was the second Marsalis/Leppard/ECO recording on Sony Classical (titled Wynton Marsalis - The London Concert). Inexperienced with trumpet recordings at the time, I really treasured the CD. After all, a big name artist known for his virtuosity was performing the technically demanding concertos. What more could you ask for? After a while, though, I began to feel that Marsalis didn't really do it for me in these works. Sure, he played with a flair (and what a flair it was), but he lacked the focused, rich tone that I've come to associate with great trumpet players (Herseth comes to mind here).

The current reviewed recording, on the other hand, is quite a piece of gem. Even though I have never heard of Hardenberger before (you trumpet players out there please excuse my ignorance), he delivers precisely what I am looking for. Hardenberger has the centered tone that most trumpeters would envy, yet he lacked none of the technical virtuosity needed for the music. His vibrato is light and very classical (as opposed to the wider jazz vibrato). On top of all that, he shows much understanding and affinity for the various works on these two CDs.

Tracks:

Vespers Of The Blessed Virgin: Deus in adjutorium - Monteverdi
Canzon V - Canadian Brass
Canon In D - Pachelbel
Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Overture - Mozart
Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Non Piu Andrai - Mozart
Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart
Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache - Mozart
Exultate Jubilate: Alleluia - Mozart
Piano sonata in A major: Rondo Alla Turca - Mozart
The Four Seasons: I - Allegro (Spring) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: II - Largo (Winter) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: III - Presto (Summer) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: IV - Allegro (Autumn) - Canadian Brass
Contrapunctus I (Andante Sostenuto) - Bach
Contrapunctus XIII (Rectus, Allegro Spiritoso) - Bach
Basin Street Blues - Canadian Brass
Chinatown, My Chinatown - Canadian Brass
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Traditional
The Saints' Halleluja - Canadian Brass

Customer Reviews:

A Must!.......2004-12-28

This is a must have for any fan of brass instrumentals. (Especially if you are a fan of the Canadian Brass.)

great music.......2000-12-18

I just bought this cd yesterday and i love it already. as a trumpeter, i can really enjoy and appreciate the music they perform. i was quite intrigued hearing canon in D (currently playing right now on my stereo), et al.

The one you need.......2000-06-26

If you are to buy only 1 CD for Brass Enemble, Get this! It captured the BEST of the Candian Brass (one of the top brass enemble in the world). It has all the nice tunes, e.g. Four Seasons, Cannon in D, etc. Strongly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Excellent but....
Before you buy this set, be warned
Mozart according to Mitsuko
Breathtaking Beauty and Truth
Mozart:The Piano Concertos

Mozart: The Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: The Piano Sonatas
Mitsuko Uchida Plays Schubert
Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos
"Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Opp. 109, 110 & 111"
Mozart: Sonatas for Piano & Violin

ASIN: B000DZ6VAK
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Customer Reviews:

Excellent but...........2007-01-10

Ok, let's start with artistic performance... this collection maybe is not the best one but still is a "must have". A little bit too "soft" but I like it.
Sound quality is excellent, too bad they didn't made as SACD.

Before you buy this set, be warned.......2007-01-04

The five stars are for the performances and recordings. For my taste, Uchida and Tate are the ones to have for the Mozart concertos. But there are two things you should know before you by this set:

1) The first four of Mozart's numbered concertos are not included. Actually, these aren't really by Mozart--they're his arrangements of music by other composers. Frankly, I don't miss them.

2) Both the 16th and the 19th concertos are begun on one disk and continued on another. Obviously this is a cost-cutting measure. But I find it annoying to have to shuttle between two disks to hear one concerto. I dealt with this by burning concertos 16 and 19 to a single disk and including it with my boxed set. If you don't want to do this, or you don't have the equipment to burn a CD, then you need to decide if shuttling between two CDs for these two concertos is worth the money you'll save in buying this budget set. Spreading a single Mozart concerto over two disks is simply unacceptable--an example of a decision made by people with no aesthetic judgment. Either redo the order of the concertos in the 8 disk set, or add one more disk.

The music and performances, of course, are sublime. The perfection of Mozart's music is matched by Uchida's flawless and tasteful playing.

Mozart according to Mitsuko.......2006-11-29

Mitsuko Uchida is a brilliant technician who pours her heart and soul into this reading of the Mozart concertos. This is "Mozart-plus-Mitsuko." Her charismatic performance is what makes this set of concertos unique and in my mind superior to all others. There is a close contender, the interpretation by Rudolf Buchbinder. Uchida is more profound, but Buchbinder's energetic precision qualifies him as the first runner-up.

But there is really no comparing the two. Buchbinder has an entirely different approach and is an entirely different person. One might classify Uchida's style as "romantic" and Buchbinder's as "classical." Uchida's evocative style comes from her inner warmth and passion. Her incredible virtuosity illuminates the depth of character of both Mozart and Mitsuko.

Mitsuko Uchida achieves those rare moments in great art when the revelation of divinity from the composer's inspired genius is passed through the performer's hands to inspire the audience. It works a kind of miraculous therapy.

The English Chamber Orchestra is brilliant under the baton of Jeffrey Tate. The orchestra sounds more focused and articulate than in the Murray Perahia concertos (under his own direction).

P.S. Theologian Karl Barth said that when the Angels play for God, they play Bach. But when they are relaxing by themselves, they play Mozart. I recommend both the Uchida and the Buchbinder. I think the Angels would prefer Mitsuko.

Breathtaking Beauty and Truth.......2006-11-24

The first impression is of excellent recorded sound: transparent, perfectly balanced and full of colour; the orchestral playing and conducting equally sensitive and flexible, full of character and life. Mitsuko Uchida is a perfect Mozart pianist. Her playing is elegant, deeply felt, personal and wonderfully idiosyncratic. There are delightfully wayward moments with slow movements stretched to a gossamer thread. With playing of this character and refinement were these movements to last forever they would still be too short! A delightful set, truthfully beautiful - such music leaves one speechless and amazed!

Mozart:The Piano Concertos.......2006-11-06

I like Mozart Piano Concertos a lot. I have several CDs for that by other pianists. This time I listen to Mituko Uchida's performance and I love that. I feel her sensitiveness and power at the same time.

Average customer rating:

Moravec's Stellar Interpretations Of Mozart's Piano Concerti
Great, not the Best, Though....
An exhilarating ride
Fantastic

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 24 & 25

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Schubert: Piano Quintet "Trout"; Mozart: Clarinet Quintet
Bach - Mass in B minor / Argenta, Nichols, Chance, Stafford, Milner, W. Evans, Gardiner
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 1
Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 23

ASIN: B000003JSS
Release Date: 1996-08-01

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 24, KV 491: C-Moll: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 24, KV 491: C-Minor: Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 24, KV 491: Do Mineur: Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 25, KV 503: C-Dur: Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 25, KV 503: C Major: Andante
Piano Concerto No. 25, KV 503: Do Majeur: Allegretto

Amazon.com essential recording

These readings appear to be the beginning of a cycle, which should come as welcome news to all Mozarteans. Born in Prague in 1930, Ivan Moravec is a pianist of uncommon gifts and one of the most sympathetic interpreters of Mozart's music ever to sit at a keyboard. His accounts of these concertos, recorded in 1995 and 1997, blend strength and gentleness, spontaneity and calculation, the playful and the serious, in a unique way--stirring in the listener that feeling of elevation that is the hallmark of the very greatest Mozart performances. Marriner and the ASMF attain the same high level of excellence, and the sound is superb. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Moravec's Stellar Interpretations Of Mozart's Piano Concerti.......2002-03-22

These are the most passionate, lyrical performances I've heard of Mozart's 24th and 25th piano concerti. Moravec is definitely a great pianist who has substantial empathy for Mozart's scores. Yet I must also add that I was a bit disappointed with Moravec's choice of cadenzas; these wren't as elaborate as those I've heard on other recordings by Ashkenazy and Brendel. Admittedly, Moravec's interpretations may not satisfy those who are well versed with Brendel's performances, yet these are just as credible, and I think, substantially more exciting. Sir Neville Marriner leads the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields in two splendid performances of the orchestral scores noted for their rich warm sound. The sound quality is quite good, though it may not be as refined as the best I've heard from Teldec, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips.

Great, not the Best, Though...........2002-02-24

First, if you don't have 24 or haven't heard it, it is one of the greatest pieces in the standard repertoire. Of Mozart's 27 piano concerti, only two are in minor keys (20 and 24) and this one is, to my mind, in the top two or three. (I like 22 about as much; while 24 is in C minor, 22 is in Eb major, whose relative minor is C minor. 22 has quite a few episodes of sturm und drang that presage this work. Composing pieces in a minor key was frowned on in Mozart's day; with 20, he finagled his way out of it by tacking on a major key ending, in 24, it stays dark all the way to the bitter end.)

It's hard to say anything bad about a disc that has so much going for it, but ultimately, it adds up to less than it could have. First, on the positive side, the sound is absolutely amazing. I can't imagine how any engineers could hope to get a better recording of a piano concerto. The balance between the piano and the orchestra is perfect. The orchestra sound is deep and warm, but not smarmy sounding. The sound of the piano is also fabulous. These two pieces could hardly be better works to test the integrative faculties of the engineers, and on that, they pass with flying colors.

The performances are great, but I disagree with the other reviewer who claims these are the best ever. Quite often in 24, the tempo seems amiss. Sometimes 24 is played as absurdly Romantic sounding, but here, they seem to have chosen to slow down parts of it to increase the drama, which is pretty annoying to anyone who has heard this piece a lot of times. Some of the tempi are more like Mahler than Mozart, which is just plain weird. And this piece doesn't need any help in the drama department. Also, Moravec's cadenza in 24 is disappointing, in my opinion. I had the Sony recording with Cadesus, so I'm a bit biased, but the cadenza breaks up the piece at a key point and inserts an interlude that is out of sorts with the other material.

I'd still recommend this, though, just wouldn't have it as my only performance. I'm going to keep looking...

An exhilarating ride.......1999-12-08

In this whole series of Mozart piano concertos, Moravec unfailingly strikes that wonderful and ever-changing balance between play and elegance, wit and pathos that makes Mozart so great.

I get so carried away with the sheer fun of these performances that I'm often oblivious to their considerable virtuosity. I suspect that's the point.

For my money, these Mozart Concertos are even better than Annie Fischer's, which I hadn't thought was possible.

Fantastic.......1999-06-30

This is quite simply the greatest performance of Mozart's 24th piano concerto yet recorded. Move over Brendel, Ashkenazy, and Pires; Moravec has proven yet again why he's one of the greatest pianists alive. He spends a minimum of two years working to perfect new additioins to his repetoire, and it shows. Music-making at its very best.

Average customer rating:

Dated
My favorite Mozart Piano concerts
Luminous...
Remarkable performances!
Still among the best Mozart piano concerto cycles

Mozart: The Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: 46 Symphonies - Berlin Philharmonic / Karl Böhm
Mozart: The Piano Concertos
Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
Schubert: 8 Symphonies

ASIN: B00004YZ36
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

Con No.6 in B flat, K.238: 1. Allegro Aperto
Con No.6 in B flat, K.238: 2. (Andante Un Poco Adagio)
Con No.6 in B flat, K.238: 3. Rondeau: Allegro
Con No.8 in C, K.246: 1. Allegro Aperto
Con No.8 in C, K.246: 2. Andante
Con No.8 in C, K.246: 3. Rondeau: Tempo Di Menutto
Con No.9 in E flat, K.271: 1. Allegro
Con No.9 in E flat, K.271: 2. Andantino
Con No.9 in E flat, K.271: 3. Rondeau: Presto - Menuetto: Cantabile - Tempo Primo

Tracks:

Con No.11 in F, K.413: 1. Allegro
Con No.11 in F, K.413: 2. Larghetto
Con No.11 in F, K.413: 3. Tempo Di Menuetto
Con No.12 in A, K.414: 1. Allegro
Con No.12 in A, K.414: 2. Andante
Con No.12 in A, K.414: 3. Allegretto
Con No.14 in E flat, K.449: 1. Allegro Vivace
Con No.14 in E flat, K.449: 2. Andantino
Con No.14 in E flat, K.449: 3. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
Con No.2 in B flat, K.39: 1. Allegro Spiritoso
Con No.2 in B flat, K.39: 2. Andante
Con No.2 in B flat, K.39: 3. Molto Allegro

Tracks:

Con No.13 in C, K.415: 1. Allegro
Con No.13 in C, K.415: 2. Andante
Con No.13 in C, K.415: 3. Allegro
Con No.15 in B flat, K.450: 1. Allegro
Con No.15 in B flat, K.450: 2. (Andante)
Con No.15 in B flat, K.450: 3. Allegro
Con No.17 in G, K.453: 1. Allegro
Con No.17 in G, K.453: 2. Andante
Con No.17 in G, K.453: 3. Allegretto

Tracks:

Con No.16 in D, K.451: 1. Allegro
Con No.16 in D, K.451: 2. (Andante)
Con No.16 in D, K.451: 3. Allegro Di Molto
Con No.18 in B flat, K.456: 1. Allegro Vivace
Con No.18 in B flat, K.456: 2. Andante Un Poco Sostenuto
Con No.18 in B flat, K.456: 3. Allegro Vivace
Con No.19 in F, K.459 'Coronation': 1. Allegro Vivace
Con No.19 in F, K.459 'Coronation': 2. Allegretto
Con No.19 in F, K.459 'Coronation': 3. Allegro Assai

Tracks:

Con No.20 in d, K.466: 1. Allegro
Con No.20 in d, K.466: 2. Romance
Con No.20 in d, K.466: 3. (Allegro Assai)
Con No.21 in C, K.467: 1. Allegro
Con No.21 in C, K.467: 2. Andante
Con No.21 in C, K.467: 3. Allegro Vivace Assai
Con No.1 in F, K.37: 1. Allegro
Con No.1 in F, K.37: 2. Andante
Con No.1 in F, K.37: 3. (Allegro)

Tracks:

Con No.22 in E flat, K.482: 1. Allegro
Con No.22 in E flat, K.482: 2. Andante
Con No.22 in E flat, K.482: 3. Allegro
Con No.23 in A, K.488: 1. Allegro
Con No.23 in A, K.488: 2. Adagio
Con No.23 in A, K.488: 3. Allegro Assai
Con No.3 in D, K.40: 1. Allegro Maestoso
Con No.3 in D, K.40: 2. Andante
Con No.3 in D, K.40: 3. Presto

Tracks:

Con No.24 in c, K.491: 1. Allegro
Con No.24 in c, K.491: 2. Larghetto
Con No.24 in c, K.491: 3. (Allegretto)
Con No.25 in C, K.503: 1. Allegro Maestoso
Con No.25 in C, K.503: 2. Andante
Con No.25 in C, K.503: 3. (Allegretto)
Con No.5 in D, K.175: 1. Allegro
Con No.5 in D, K.175: 2. Andante, Ma Un Poco Adagio
Con No.5 in D, K.175: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Con No.26 in D, K.537 'Coronation': 1. Allegro
Con No.26 in D, K.537 'Coronation': 2. (Larghetto)
Con No.26 in D, K.537 'Coronation': 3. (Allegretto)
Con No.27 in B flat, K.595: 1. Allegro
Con No.27 in B flat, K.595: 2. Larghetto
Con No.27 in B flat, K.595: 3. Allegro
Con No.4 in G, K.41: 1. Allegro
Con No.4 in G, K.41: 2. Andante
Con No.4 in G, K.41: 3. Molto Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Dated.......2007-05-31

In its time, this cycle of concertos was state-of-the art.

Even today, some of the performances hold up fairly well. But overall, the sound and performance are quite dated.

The orchestral playing in this set was never the greatest, too-often a bit ragged, and intonation in the strings is occasionally hit-and-miss. The winds were quite good for the time, being a bunch of big-time soloists of that era (including people like flutist Aurele Nicolet)...but even they sound a little out at times.

Anda's playing was reasonably stylish for the time. Certainly better than that of many pianists who came later. But given the evolution of Mozart-style in the last 40 years, his playing now sounds a little too plain-jane. Nothing wrong with just playing the music, but Anda is a bit too uninflected to be interesting. And, like nearly every other pianist who should know better, he plays the inferior publisher's solo part for #26...an unforgiveable act even then.

Still, all-in-all, hard to beat for the money, and an adequate introduction to some of Mozart's greatest music, but only adequate. Barely. Anda is eclipsed almost completely by Bilson and Gardiner. By Immerseel and Anima Aeterna, and would have been totally eclipsed by Levin and Hogwood, had they completed that much-lamented incomplete cycle.

Barenboim, Ashkenazy, Uchida and Perahia are all tastelessly un-stylish. To my ears, those recordings are just about unlistenable, in their day, and now. Anda beats these handily. But they are not the standard these days. They never were.

For the record, Andreas Staier and Concerto Koln are the new standard in this repertoire..it is truly tragic that Staier has not recorded any more Mozart concertos, beyond the four he did some seven years ago now.

Too bad Ivan Moravec never recorded all the Mozart concertos. That would have been something to hear. The ones he did record are right at the top of the heap, for sure.

I'd probably go with Brendel if you want a complete cycle with modern piano. Hard to beat Brendel in anything, although the ASMIF is a mediocre band at best, and you can only wish Brendel had recorded with someone else.

In short, finding top-flight Mozart piano concerto recordings, even now, with the enormous number of them out there, is still a hit/miss proposition. And finding a complete cycle on modern piano that really *gets* Mozartean style, is damned near impossible. That would be a real milestone in recording history: a cycle of Mozart piano concertos, with modern instruments, that truly delivers stylistically, and the pianist plays with the kind of freedom Mozart would have, not following the score so slavishly as nearly all recordings do, including, especially, Anda, who should have known better.

No-one's done it yet. But, maybe someone will, someday.

My favorite Mozart Piano concerts.......2007-01-11

The delivery time from Amazone was shorter than I expected.
And I have been very satisfied with the CDs.

Thanks.

Luminous... .......2006-09-27

This is an outstanding set of music, of any variety/vintage. The interpretations of all the concerti are luminous and iridescent. They bring to mind Liszt's observation about Mozart being "music's genius of light and love". I prefer them, without reservation, to the Perahia set which I also possess. All the concerti are lively and with such splendid insights, that it would appear that one is hearing several of the movements for the first time.
I heard them sequentially from #1 to #27, and cannot find words to do justice to the last concerto, which is one of my favorites. Rather than merely being slower than normal, or melancholy, it is so suspended between the earth and the sky, that one feels lifted into some alternate sphere of existence. The outcome of this magic is that when the 6/8 time of the finale is first heard, one is left gasping for air. This is the finest and most satisfying interpretation of #27 I have ever heard. My only complaint is with #24, in that it does not aspire to the symphonic reaches it attains with Wilhelm Kempff at the pianoforte, but then that I hold true for every other interpretation of that concerto as well.
All in all, a genuinely beautiful and lovely set for anyone who loves the Mozart piano concerti and hears them as frequently as do I. Recommended without reservation!

Remarkable performances!.......2006-01-02

Geza Anda possesed an unique and enviable (in the best sense of the word)rapport with Mozart. There are versions that must be underlined among the most pyramidal ever done. His First, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, 12th,the 15th, the 19th,23th and 27th justify by far its acquisition.

Geza Anda received an invaluable influence of thwo superb musicians; the unforgettable Clara Haskil and the hyper talented Hungarian conductor, Ferenc Fricsay.

Playing and conducting from the Piano he played regularly in Salzburg Festivals, being his sound pristine and crystalline. His excellent approach and above all, his formidable pianism, conform one of the most indispensable sets of these Piano Concertos.

Specially recomended in this special year 2006 in which all of us will commemorate the 250th anniversary of this sublime composer.

Still among the best Mozart piano concerto cycles.......2004-12-06

During his lifetime Geza Anda was acknowledged as among the foremost interpreters of Mozart's piano scores, perfoming annually at the Salzburg Festival towards the end of his life. His Mozart piano concerto cycle was the first to be recorded almost in its entirety by one soloist and orchestra. It was also the first to have the orchestra under the soloist's direction. Recorded over the span of several years, these performances still sound quite vividly clear and crisp. The sound quality on these recordings is absolutely first rate. Credit is due to Deutsche Grammophon's recording engineers; these are some of the label's best recordings from the 1960's. As a soloist, Anda gives introspective, yet passionate, readings of Mozart's scores which lack the exuberance of Daniel Barenboim's performances with the English Chamber Orchestra, but are as polished as Alfred Brendel's with the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner's direction. Most noteworthy are his performances of the 14th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 26th and 27th concerti, but the others sound fine too. Fans of Mozart's piano concerti will not be disappointed with this inexpensive CD set, which still holds its own against its more recent, better recorded competition from the likes of Perahia and Uchida, to name but a few.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Rigor Mortis Sets In [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Hebraic Legacies

La Votz Deus Anjos - Balaguèra

Country's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: Southern Country Rock

Logical Progression, Level 4

Lucid Dreams

In Paradisu [Import]

Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Halloween

Klaus Nomi

Everything Must Go (+ Bonus DVD)

Improvisations/Mind in the Trees [Limited Edition]

Guardianes del Angel [Import]

Hell and Back [Explicit Lyrics]

Unlimited

Freddy Martin & His Orchestra - Greatest Hits