Mozart: The Piano Quartets

On this CD:

1. Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Andre Previn, Gary Hoffman, Young Uck Kim, Heiichiro Ohyama

2. Piano Quartet No. 2 in E flat major, K. 493
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Andre Previn, Gary Hoffman, Young Uck Kim, Heiichiro Ohyama

Mozart: The Piano Quartets, Music, Gary Hoffman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, André Previn, Heiichiro Ohyama, Young Uck Kim, Chamber, Classical, Classical Music, Quartet for Keyboard and Three String Instruments

Average customer rating:

A well chosen album title

Happy Birthday by Gidon Kremer

A perfect birthday gift

Jest with Zest

I want to play the variations myself!

Happy Birthday
Gidon Kremer , and Kremerata Baltica
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00006JP2B
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Polka
Thema
Variation Nach Joseph Haydn
Variation Nach Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Variation Nach Ludwig Van Beethoven
Variation Nach Johannes Brahms
Variation Nach Robert Schumann
Variation Nach Antonin Dvorak
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Variation Im Stil Von Filmmusik
Ragtime
Tango
Czardas
Adagio
Allegretto
Ad Libitum
Allegro. Presto
Variations Brillantes Et Concertantes Sur L'air 'God Save The King,' Op.38
Elegy
McMozart's Eine Kleine Bricht Moonlicht Nicht Musik
I. Eine Kleine Nichtmusik
II. Moonlight Concerto
III. Chaconne A Son Gout
IV. Hommage To Shostakofiev
Souvenir

Amazon.com

To celebrate its sixth anniversary as an ensemble, Kremerata Baltica presents a light, loving, and musically interesting confection. After an opening polka by Schnittke (who knew he could be so frothy?), we get 11 variations on the song "Happy Birthday" by Peter Heidrich, à la Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms, and some dance movements. Delightful. Elsewhere, Franz Waxman's Variations on "Auld lang syne" are as clever as they are unexpected and charming. More variations--this time on "God save the King" by the 19th century composers Ghys and Servais--afford Kremer and cellist Marta Sudraba a fine time, and Teddy Bor's brief riff on Mozart's omnipresent "Eine kleine nachtmusik" is a hoot. There's more, but the point is made: Classical music can be fun and sophisticated, and Kremer and his group remain virtuosi, one and all. --Robert Levine

Album Description

These young Baltic musicians possess a vivid spectrum of string color, thoroughly polished execution, and a direction of effort in service to the composer... There is no violinist with greater versatility and commitment to musical truth than Kremer. Slipcase. Nonesuch. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

A well chosen album title.......2007-01-10

I was desperately looking through the internet for a tango "happy birthday" and the tune was there, in this album. After I purchased the cd, I read the booklet included and there I found mentioned that "the album's title is not merely a reference to the popular tune, but a celebration of the ensemble's anniversary". So, I was happy to have finally found a tango "happy birthday" but I was also disappointed because this was not the playful album I was looking forward to listen to.
But this is a bit unfair for this excellent orchestra.
If what you are looking for is innovations on the romantic classicals... well this could be it. The point is that this is an album for listeners who know their way into classical music.
Other than that I should suggest that innovation regarding any classical music "playful" album would be to capture the listener's interest with more daring ways than that.

Happy Birthday by Gidon Kremer.......2007-01-09

This is a nice "classic" touch for any birthday celebration--great musical treatment of a most familiar tune!

A perfect birthday gift.......2006-01-26

I bought it out of my own devotion to Gidon Kremer and another one for a food friend's birthday. Kremer never let me down. This is another outstanding CD and a perfect birthday gift, even for non-classical lovers. However, to be very honest, I am not totally satisfied with all the tracks but still it's highly recommended. I would say it is an almost-must-have for your CD shelf. The variation of the traditional 'Happy Birthday' is fantastic if not too commercial.

Jest with Zest.......2005-11-26

If you enjoy parodies, this will be the perfect album for you. The jokes played on the various composers are amusing and refreshing, especially for music students who bore their brains out analysing these composers. Take a fresh view and enjoy! Even though they may seem meaningless initially, they grow onto you soon enough; and you will start asking - why not?

I want to play the variations myself!.......2004-07-22

My God...I will be too grateful to anyone who can show me where I can get the printed music of the "Happy Birthday" variation ....

Average customer rating:

Masterful Mozart

Mozart: The Piano Quartets

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: String quartets K. 465 "Dissonance", K. 458 "The Hunt" & K. 421

ASIN: B0001ENYJ4
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

I. Allegro - Jaime Laredo
II. Larghetto - Jaime Laredo
III. Allegretto - Jaime Laredo
I. Allegro - Jaime Laredo
II. Andante - Jaime Laredo
III. Rondo - Jaime Laredo
I. Andante - Richard Stoltzman
II. Menuetto - Trio - Richard Stoltzman
III. Rondeauz. Allegretto - Richard Stoltzman

Customer Reviews:

Masterful Mozart.......2006-01-27

These two "Piano Quartets" are Mozart at his most magnificent. The team of Ma, Ax, Stern and Laredo, who also brought us classic chamber recordings by Beethoven, Brahms, Faure, and most recently Dvorak, here tackle Mozart with glowing results. I have to say that while I'm a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern, I can be luke warm about Emanuel Ax . While I don't dispute his virtuosity, I sometimes have found his playing style cold and uninspiring. Oh, but not here! This quartet's playing is wonderfully telepathic, and they make the music jump off the page. There's even a little improvising going on, and while it may not be of the same volume and nature as John Coltrane and Miles Davis, it is of similar quality. This Mozart "Piano Quartets" is an essential purchase for serious fans, and a great introduction for newcomers. Happy 250th Wolfie!

The Most Relaxing Flute Album in the World...Ever!

Average customer rating:

Sweet Lilting Flute Music to Unwind With

The Most Relaxing Flute Album in the World...Ever!

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AXWGYU
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Flute Concerto No. 1 in G, K.313 - II Adagio - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto in G, Op. 10 No. 4 - II Largo - Antonio Vivaldi
Gymnope No. 1 - Erik Satie
Sonata in C (after Hob.III.72) - Andantino - Franz Joseph Haydn
Sicilienne, Op. 78 - Gabriel Faur
Flute Quartet No. 2 in G, K. 285a - I Andante - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto in F, Op. 10 No. 5 - II Largo e cantabile - Antonio Vivaldi
Romance - Arthur Honegger
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 - III Sarabande - Johann Sebastian Bach
Beau Soir - Claude Debussy
Sonata for Two Flutes in B Minor, Op. 2 No. 4 - I Largo - Georg Philipp Telemann
Sonata for Two Flutes in B Minor, Op. 2 No. 4 - II Grazioso - Georg Philipp Telemann
Flute Concerto No. 2 in D, K.314 - II Andante ma non troppo - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonata for Flute & Continuo in E Minor, BWV 1034 - III Andante - Johann Sebastian Bach
Gymnope No. 2 - Erik Satie

Tracks:

Concerto in D, Op. 10 No. 3 Il Cardellino - II Cantabile - Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for Flute & Orchestra in D - II Adagio - attr. Franz Joseph Haydn
Flute Quartet No. 3 in C, K. 285b - II Andantino con variazioni: Variation 5 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto in G for Flute & Strings - II Adagio - Georg Philipp Telemann
Arabesque No. 1 in E - Claude Debussy
Concerto Secondo in D (Paris Quartets) - II Affettuoso - Georg Philipp Telemann
Berceuse (from Dolly Suite) - Gabriel Faur
Mtation (from Tha) - Jules Massenet
Concerto in D, RV 429 - II Largo - Antonio Vivaldi
En bateau (from Petite Suite) - Claude Debussy
Andante in C, K.315 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Partita in A Minor for Solo Flute, BWV 1013 - III Sarabande - Johann Sebastian Bach
Morceau de concours - Gabriel Faur
Concerto for Flute & Harp in C, K.299 - II Andantino - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Aria - Jacques Ibert
Paris Quartet No. 4 in B Minor - V Triste - Georg Philipp Telemann
Syrinx for Solo Flute - Claude Debussy

Customer Reviews:

Sweet Lilting Flute Music to Unwind With.......2006-01-10

Crisp and clean and seductively laid back is this nice collection of 31 pieces from the composer likes of Haydn, Mozart, Bach, Debussy, Telemann, et al, performed by the greatest flutists in the world such as Bennett, Galway, and Rampal.

Especially enjoying the Concerto in G by Vivaldi with harpsichord.

Super Artists on Super Audio, Vol. 3 [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Super Artists on Super Audio, Vol. 3 [Hybrid SACD]

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Anon: Allegro - Not Listed
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Average customer rating:

Mozart: Quintets, Quartets, Trios, etc.

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Mozart: Piano Music

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Mozart: Piano Quartets / Ax, Laredo, Ma, Stern

Average customer rating:

Bad stock management
MUTUALLY MUTUAL MOZART
performances axed!
Masterful Mozart

Mozart: Piano Quartets / Ax, Laredo, Ma, Stern

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ASIN: B000002AY5
Release Date: 1997-02-25

Tracks:

Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola, And Cello In E Flat Major: I Allegro
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola, And Cello In E Flat Major: II Larghetto
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola, And Cello In E Flat Major: III Allegretto
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello In G Minor: I Allegro
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello In G Minor: II Andante
Quartet For Piano, Violin, Viola And Cello In G Minor: III Rondo Allegro moderato

Amazon.com essential recording

This is a wonderful recording of two indispensable masterpieces. By adding the viola, which he loved to play, to the popular piano trio, Mozart became "the father of the piano quartet" with these very different works, the first somber and dramatic, though it ends with a sprightly finale, the second lyrical and serene. Mozart treats all the instruments as equals, but primarily alternates piano and strings, bringing them together in climactic moments. This means that the musicians must inwardly participate in the music-making during long rests to create continuity and seamless give-and-take, a subtle problem these performers solve admirably. These four superb soloists have a rapport so strong that thoughts and feelings seem to flow between them in an unbroken current. Their playing is technically impeccable; their phrasing and style are unanimous, elegant, and flexible; their tone, though each player has a different one, is beautiful and expressive; the piano sings ravishingly; Ax adds discreet, improvisatory embellishments, especially in repeats. They bring out all of Mozart's mercurial moods, the light and shadow, repose and passion, joy and sorrow. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Bad stock management.......2007-06-09

Transaction was disappointing because I was charged for CD and told shipping info, but then a couple of days later I was told that CD was not available. Money was creditited back immediately and apologies made but it was still a disappointing first use of the new facility.

MUTUALLY MUTUAL MOZART.......2005-08-11

With a consistency of interpretation and authenticity that beggars criticism, Mozart's undeniably glowing piano quartets spring warmly to life in the fraternal hands of Ax, Stern, Laredo and Ma. There is no streamlining here; the performances retain an endearing rough and ready quality so contagious, so fresh, so vital that the rare musical melding allows the listener immediate emotional entree. Tempi are insightfully and affectionately judged, the balance between slow and fast movements, perfectly contrasted. Ax, true to the composer, gives the piano a voice amongst the strings, acting very much the representative compass. Stern is particularly lyrical here, and Laredo liberates the second violin with a melodious sensitivity; Ma's cello adds an outstanding autumnal stability to the whole. The recording is exceptionally realistic and present, with each instrument beautifully engaged. This is self-recommending, glorious "hausmusik" intimately, yet spontaneously re-defined by a stellar ensemble.

[Running time: 55:37]

performances axed!.......2002-06-27

Superb performances nearly undone by Ax's swinish insensitivity in the slow movements. Oh he's fine enough when the going's going -- when things are bouncing along nicely. But when the music calls for the utmost in slow heart-easing palpation of the melos (the beginning of K 478's middle movement, for example), forget it! He refuses to phrase or pace with any deep understanding of this very deep music.

Rubinstein does much better with the Guarneri, and Ax makes one wish Adolf Busch, Karl Doktor, Hermann Busch and Rudolf Serkin had recorded the works back in the thirties.

Otherwise not a bad disc.

Masterful Mozart.......2000-09-26

These two "Piano Quartets" are Mozart at his most magnificent. The team of Ma, Ax, Stern and Laredo, who also brought us classic chamber recordings by Beethoven, Brahms, Faure, and most recently Dvorak, here tackle Mozart with glowing results. I have to say that while I'm a huge fan of Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern, I can be luke warm about Emanuel Ax . While I don't dispute his virtuosity, I sometimes have found his playing style cold and uninspiring. Oh, but not here! This quartet's playing is wonderfully telepathic, and they make the music jump off the page. There's even a little improvising going on, and while it may not be of the same volume and nature as the Classic Coltrane Quartet, it is of similar quality. This Mozart "Piano Quartets" is an essential purchase for serious fans, and a great introduction for newcomers.

Average customer rating:

Piano Quartets: Music for You
Mozart , Ax , Stern , Laredo , and Yo-Yo Ma
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006GO8I
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Mozart: Piano Quartets; Trio "Kegelstatt"; Schubert: Piano Quintet "The Trout"

Average customer rating:

Academic Schubert and Mozart

Mozart: Piano Quartets; Trio "Kegelstatt"; Schubert: Piano Quintet "The Trout"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Franz Schubert , Timothy Boulton , Richard Lester , Krysia Osostowicz , Susan Tomes , and Domus
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000632J
Release Date: 1998-05-05

Tracks:

Piano Quartet No. 1 In G Minor, K.478: I. Allegro - Mozart W. A.
Piano Quartet No. 1 In G Minor, K.478: II. Andante - Mozart W. A.
Piano Quartet No. 1 In G Minor, K.478: III. Rondo allegretto - Mozart W. A.
Trio For Clarinet, Viola And Piano In E-Flat Major 'Kegelstatt', K.498: I. Andante - Mozart W. A.
Trio For Clarinet, Viola And Piano In E-Flat Major 'Kegelstatt', K.498: II. Menuetto - Mozart W. A.
Trio For Clarinet In E-Flat Major, K.498 'Kegelstatt': III. Rondo: Allegretto - Mozart W. A.
Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K.493: I. Allegro - Mozart W. A.
Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K.493: II. Larghetto - Mozart W. A.
Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K.493: III. Rondo: Allegretto - Mozart W. A.

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In A Major, D.667, 'The Trout': I. Allegro vivace - Franz Schubert
Piano Quintet In A Major, D.667, 'The Trout': II. Andante - Franz Schubert
Piano Quintet In A Major, D.667, 'The Trout': III. Scherzo: Presto - Franz Schubert
Piano Quintet In A Major, D.667, 'The Trout': IV. Theme And Variations: Andantino - Allegretto - Franz Schubert
Piano Quintet In A Major, D.667, 'The Trout': V. Finale: Allegro Giusto - Franz Schubert
Adagio And Rondo concertante In F Major, D.487 - Franz Schubert

Customer Reviews:

Academic Schubert and Mozart.......1998-10-27

This was a disappointing album for me. While all the notes are there, and they are well recorded, the performances in both the Schubert and the Mozart lack the spark that would give them life. The Adagio and Rondo Concertante in F, however, is worth hearing, and rarely recorded.

Average customer rating:

A hidden gem
What a bargain!
Mozart Delight!
Excellent!

Mozart: Piano Quartets

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000FYA1
Release Date: 1998-12-01

Tracks:

Pno Qt in g: Allegro
Pno Qt in g: Andante
Pno Qt in g: Rondo: Allegro Moderato
Pno Qt in E Flat: Allegro
Pno Qt in E Flat: Largetto
Pno Qt in E Flat: Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

A hidden gem.......2005-04-01

There isn't much I can say about this recording that hasn't already been said. In short, the Menuhin Festival Piano Quartet gives impassioned, exuberant readings of these works that bring out their drama and ardor while still maintaining Mozartean precision and transparency of sound. The acoustics are a tad on the resonant side, which I prefer--but if you like your chamber music to sound more confined, this isn't the recording for you. That's the only possible fault I can find with this CD, though. Some Naxos classical CDs are good starter recordings until you can buy more "upscale" interpretations, but this isn't one of them--it's the only recording of these quartets I need. It sounds every bit as good as the classic recordings of Mozart's piano quartets and it's less than half the price. What else do you need to know?

What a bargain!.......2004-05-16

In my view, Mozart's two piano quartets (he only wrote the two) are amongst the loveliest in the chamber music repertoire. The Menuhin Festival Piano Quartet provides a classy, lively, and lyrical performance of both.

I admit that I have not heard the two much higher-priced recordings recommended by Gramophone, but I'd be very surprised if they are much better. At $7, this CD is a real bargain; it is one of my most frequently played CDs -- for good reason. [I say much the same about the Ashkenazy / Zukerman / Harris recording of Schubert's piano trios, for the same reasons.]

Mozart Delight!.......2002-12-24

I stumbled on this CD recently while looking for a performance by the Menuhim Festival Orchestra. I bought it based upon the fine review written below and have not been disappointed. My measure of a CD's quality is how long it remains on my six disc carousel. This CD has not left the carousel in the weeks since I first listened to it. I have no idea why my compatriot gave these performances only four stars. In my estimation they surely deserve five stars. That the CD costs less than the price of a movie ticket is at once a surprise and a delight. Thank you again Naxos! You make it possible for a classical music fan to build a credible library of fine music without having to mortgage the house.

Excellent!.......2000-07-25

This CD contains a pair of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's loveliest chamber music compositions. Mozart only composed two piano quartets in his brief but illustrious career, and both came relatively late in his life. The first (K.478) was completed in 1785, and the second (K.493) came a year later. These quartets show Mozart at "full stretch," with his chamber music style fully developed and at its most eloquent and imaginative.

I found these to be excellent performances. The Menuhin Festival Piano Quartet plays both masterpieces with great sensitivity and warmth. The first movements of both are played with bold majesty, especially in the opening measures. Inner movements are quietly serene and poetic. The G minor quartet's second movement has a beautifully played piano melody accompanied by the strings, while the central movement of the E flat major quartet takes the form of a superbly balanced musical conversation between all four instruments. The final movements of both quartets both have a joyfully exuberant dance-like quality which shows Mozart at his most cheerfully optimistic.

Overall, the CD sound quality is very good. The balance between the four instruments is almost perfect, giving the recording an excellent sense of realism and immediacy. However, the resonant acoustics of Clara Wieck auditorium, where the quartets were recorded, detract slightly from the intimate feel so essential in chamber music. Despite this very minor shortcoming, this remains a very enjoyable listening experience.