Mozart: Piano Concertos 21 & 24

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ("Elvira Madigan") K. 467
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Clifford Curzon
Conducted by Rafael Kubelik

2. Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Clifford Curzon
Conducted by Rafael Kubelik

Mozart: Piano Concertos 21 & 24, Music, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Rafael Kubelik, Clifford Curzon, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concerto, 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
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Marriner, Sir Neville | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

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Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

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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.

Average customer rating:

Sound quality poor
Warmth and humour of Mozart
A genius in his invaluable youth!
Barenboim
Great performances of inspired music

Mozart: The Complete Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations
Mozart: Chamber Music
Mozart: 51 Symphonies
Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim
Mozart: The Violin Sonatas

ASIN: B00000C2KO
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In F Major, K 37: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F Major, K 37: II. Andante - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F Major, K 37: III. Rondo - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, K 39: I. Allegro spiritoso - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, K 39: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, K 39: III. Molto allegro
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Major, K 40: I. Allegro maestoso - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Major, K 40: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Major, K 40: III. Presto
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, K41: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, K41: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, K41: III. Molto allegro - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major, K 175: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major, K 175: II. Andante ma un poco adagio - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major, K 175: III. Allegro - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, K 238: I. Allegro aperto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, K 238: II. Andante un poco adagio - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, K 238: III. Rondeau (Allegro) - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 8 In C Major, K 246 'Lutzow': I. Allegro aperto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 8 In C Major, K 246 'Lutzow': II. Andante - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 8 In C Major, K 246 'Lutzow': III. Rondeau- Tempo di menuetto

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K 271: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K 271: II. Andantino - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K 271: III. Rondeau: Presto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C Major, K 503: I. Allegro meastoso - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C Major, K 503: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C Major, K 503: I. Allegretto
Concert Rondo For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In D Major, K 382

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 11 in F Major, K 413: I. Allegretto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 11 in F Major, K 413: II. Largetto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 11 in F Major, K 413: III. Tempo di Menuetto
Piano Concerto No. 12 In A Major, K 414: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 12 In A Major, K 414: II. Andante - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 12 In A Major, K 414: III. Allegretto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 13 In C Major, K 415: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 13 In C Major, K 415: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 13 In C Major, K 415: III. Allegro - Adagio - Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concert No. 14 In E Flat Major, K 449: I. Allegro vivace - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concert No. 14 In E Flat Major, K 449: II. Andantino
Piano Concert No. 14 In E Flat Major, K 449: III. Allegro ma non troppo
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat Major, K 450: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat Major, K 450: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat Major, K 450: III. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K 451: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K 451: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K 451: III. Allegro di molto - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, K453: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart, arr. Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, K453: II. Andante - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, K453: III. Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 26 In D Major, K 537 'Coronation': I. Allegro - Cadenza (Wanda Landowska) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 26 In D Major, K 537 'Coronation': II. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 26 In D Major, K 537 'Coronation': III. Allegretto

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 18 In B Flat Major, K 456: I. Allegro vivace - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 18 In B Flat Major, K 456: II. Andante un poco sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 18 In B Flat Major, K 456: III. Allegro vivace - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F Major, K 459: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F Major, K 459: II. Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 19 In F Major, K 459: III. Allegro assai - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K 466: I. Allegro - Cadenza - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K 466: II. Romanze
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K 466: III. Rondeau: Allegro assai - Cadenza - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K 491: I. Allegro spiritoso - Cadenza - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K 491: II. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K 491: III. Allegretto

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major, K 467: I. Allegro maestoso - Cadenza - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major, K 467: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major, K 467: III. Allegro vivace assai - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat Major, K 595: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat Major, K 595: II. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat Major, K 595: III. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat Major, K 482: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Barenboim) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat Major, K 482: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat Major, K 482: III. Rondo: Allegro - Cadenza (Edwin Fischer) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K 488: I. Allegro - Cadenza (Mozart) - Tempo I
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K 488: II. Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K 488: III. Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

Sound quality poor.......2006-04-26

The sound quality is poor and the balance no good.

Disappointing from a major company such as EMI and major performer such as Barenboim.

Their similar set of Beethoven sonatas with Barenboim (70s) is much more acceptable.

Warmth and humour of Mozart.......2006-03-23

We bought this as a gift for a friend, as we already own it, and think it is the best thing in our CD library. Barenboim brings out the humour and the warmth in the concertos without being over-romantic, and brings emotional richness to his performance - in great contrast to the rather mechanical and cold renditions by other performers who are supposed to be Mozartian 'experts'. We think Amadeus would approve whole-heartedly of these performances.

A genius in his invaluable youth!.......2005-03-30

When Daniel Barenboim decided to face the huge challenge of playing the Complete Set of Piano Concerts he was making (without knowing at this moment)one of his multiple artistic triumphs.
The first impressive detail to remark is the convincent maturity and silent self discipline self impossed by himself. But the genius of Barenboim's playing is the absolute conviction he always sounds so natural. And hardly you will find the minimum sensation of effort as you just can feel it with Brendel for instance.
I still have these recordings in vynil format and from time to time I compare both formats. Go for these records and you will not only enjoy to Mozart's genius but the grandness of a real Keyboard Giant in his twenties.
After the wise decision to perform and conduct the orchestra from the piano, the interpretations acquired a major enrichment and enlightment, and somehow these recordings constitute the previous step for that decision.
To make a major disection of Concert by Concert would be extremely interseting but it would be equally long. There are some higlights performances and in my opinion these are: The 24th, 23th, 19th,12th, 25th, 14th, 15th and the first six.
In honor to the truth there are unbeatable major versions in other performances.
The 9th I find to Geza Anda, the 18 th Andras Schiff, 20th Myra Hess with Walter in last fifties, 21 th Casadesus and Munch in the last forties not available in CD format, 22th Fisher and Serkin, 26 th Gulda Harnoncourt, 27th Haskill and Curzon.
Absolutely recommended for every real Mozart's admirer.

Barenboim.......2005-03-17

Daniel Barenboim is one of the best pianists around. He DOES NOT play Mozart too Beethoven-like. I love these recordings, and as a pianist myself, I know that Barenboim delivers very good performances of these beautiful pieces. This set is also probably just as good as the $150 Marriner/Brendel set, and at a fraction of the price. The sound quality is very good. HIGHLY recommended.

Great performances of inspired music.......2004-11-06

This set is beautifully performed and is also priced competitively. I am very satisfied with my purchase, though I'm sorry it doesn't include the concertos for 2 and 3 pianos.

Barenboim's own cadenzas are enjoyable. I don't notice any lack of maturity in the playing, but this may be my inexperience!

Some prefer Ashkenazy, but it is quite a bit more expensive [though it does include those works just mentioned].

I am confident most readers will be very happy with this set.

Highly recommended

Average customer rating:

Excellent and inexpensive
Satisfying, "old-school" Mozart
Pretty Good
EXCELLENT SELECTION AND INTERPRETATIONS
Ashkenazy on a Classical era adventure...

Mozart: Great Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 "Pathétique" in B minor Op. 74

ASIN: B0000041LF
Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K467: I. Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K467: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K467: III. Allegro vivace assai
Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor, K491: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor, K491: II. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No.24 In C Minor, K491: III. Allegretto
Piano Concerto No.25 In C Major, K503: I. Allegro maestoso

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.25 In C Major, K503: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No.25 In C Major, K503: III. Allegretto
Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488: II. Adagio
Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488: III. Allegro assai
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K466: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K466: II. Romance
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K466: III. Rondo Allegro assai

Amazon.com

Decca has gotten around the perennial problem of filling Mozart Piano Concerto CDs by splitting No. 25 between two discs, giving us 155 minutes of Mozart for the price of a single top-line CD. The performances are top-line, too, if you like big-orchestra Mozart. Ashkenazy performs this music in a public, large-auditorium style, without the intimacy or niceties we hear from period instruments or from such pianists as Richard Goode and Mitsuko Uchida. His own cadenzas for three of the concertos are also very extroverted--and, alas, not very imaginative. Also, there are a few moments when the orchestra might have benefited from a firmer hand on the tiller than the pianist-conductor can provide. Overall, though, these are dramatic, involving Mozart performances, even if their style belongs more to the past than to the present. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Excellent and inexpensive.......2007-05-29

These are fabulous performances that contain all the richness, depth, and emotional movement of Mozart's best (or, one could say, most famous) piano concertos. Especially great are the performances of the 21st, 25th, and the 23rd. The 23rd on disc 2 is by far the best one I've ever heard.

This is a great buy!

Ashkenazy has a knack for putting together all that listeners want on convenient two disc sets...and they rarely disappoint. See his "Favourite Beethoven Piano Sonatas" for a similar treat.

Satisfying, "old-school" Mozart.......2005-05-07

Vladimir Ashkenazy's complete cycle of Mozart piano concertos was originally issued in the late 70s-early 80s, and holds up well, on the evidence of this bargain-priced 2-CD set of five of the most famous of these works. The pianist's approach tends toward the large-scale and deliberate. This works particularly well in the majestic C major Concerto K. 503 (one is made aware of how this work influenced Beethoven's own G major Concerto) and the tragic C minor work, K. 491. He is supported by beautiful playing from the Philharmonia Orchestra, whose strings lend a magical sheen to the Romantic melodies of the famous "Elvira Madigan" slow movement of K. 467. Ashkenasy's playing is fittingly sparkling in passagework and as transparent as a modern Steinway concert grand can be. By today's standards of historical performance the orchestra is large, some of the slow movements could have used a bit more ornamentation, and the pianist's own cadenzas to K. 467, 491 and 503 wander a bit too far afield harmonically; but these are small quibbles in otherwise enjoyable performances.

Pretty Good.......2005-04-28

I grew up listening to Rudolph Serkin play these pieces. He will always be the gold standard on Mozart piano concertos as far as I'm concerned. I gave this album 3 stars instead of 4 solely for Ashkenazy's weak play on the 3rd movement of the 20th Concerto. It didn't have the passion or fire I've come to expect from that movement. In fact, me personally, I think the whole set lacks a certain fire. I don't claim to be an expert, but his work on Mozart is nowhere near as good as his work on Beethoven. And other masters are much better at Mozart, in my opinion.

EXCELLENT SELECTION AND INTERPRETATIONS.......2004-03-04

I received this 2 cd set as a gift and have played it many times - especially the slow movements which are so ethereal and soul-wrenching - and notably Vladimir Ashkenazy's interpretations of the concertos numbers 23, 24, and 20.

The pianist is ably assisted by the incomparable Philharmonia Orchestra and the sound - for the most part - is more than adequate. Three of the concertos are DDD and two are ADD - but that does not detract in any way from the excellence of Ashkenazy's "view" on Mozart nor do the transfers diminish the artistry of Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

A great buy and one that should be in all collections even if you have other interpretations; he even surpasses Alfred Brendel at times in some of the concertos - notably Nr. 23 in A major, K488

Timothy Wingate from Ottawa, Canada

Ashkenazy on a Classical era adventure..........2004-02-26

Hi to All

I am a very conservative fan of Mozart. I always buy one work from different performers to find the best for my soul...If the topic is Mozart I examine more carefully...I was very worried about Ashkenazy's Mozart interpretation before I listen to this cd...After I listened this cd I saw that there was nothing to get worried about :)
I always see and feel Ashkenazy as the king of the romantic era...He gives a great feeling to this Era's music...he touches to your soul..that was why I was worrying about his performance on Mozart...Because Classical era has a very different style of performing...and Mozart has much more difference even its in own era...on this cd we see the influence of his romantic interpretation...but it doesnt disturb you...it even adds something new to the mozart soul...maybe I felt this because of the piano's tone but sometimes you feel like it has to continue like a chopin ballade or a rachmaninov prelude...
Overall it is a touching performance of Mozart's piano concertos...especially in the second movement of 23th piano concerto in A maj...but it is not a mozartaen kind...
Romantic interpretation of this Great Music...something different and sounds nice...

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: 2. Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor: 3. Allegro Assai
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467: 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467: 2. Andante
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467: 3. Allegro Vivace Assai

Amazon.com essential recording

Mozart's greatest piano concertos bring together so many elements identified with his style that they offer an ideal introduction to their composer's uniqueness. This is especially the case with the well-loved pair Nos. 20 and 21, which were produced in one fertile outburst in 1785. Here you will find both the dramatic flair and the comic high spirits of Mozart's tragic and comic operas, the last symphonies' breadth and polyphonic ingenuity (especially in the lengthy first movement of No. 21), and the conversational intimacy of the chamber music. This recording is one of several collaborations between conductor Jeffrey Tate and Mitsuko Uchida. In the wake of such legendary interpreters as Clifford Curzon, the Japanese pianist established a reputation in the '80s as one of the finest contemporary Mozarteans for her combination of poetic sensitivity and thoughtful involvement. Uchida plays with characteristic poise and never settles for superficial prettiness of sound (notice, for example, the sense of suspense she brings to the extended trill left hovering shortly into the soloist's entrance in No. 21). The restless, tragic momentum of No. 20 glows with inner fire, while Uchida's singing grace of line conveys an almost vocal warmth. There is sympathetic balance of soloist against orchestra (which features superb contributions from the winds), as well as a sure grasp of Mozart's larger structural symmetries. As an alternative to the extremes of period-instrument orthodoxy and romantic excess, this disc belongs in the collection of any lover of Mozart. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

The best Concerto No.20 (K466) available.......2007-05-03

I've listened to interpretations from Brendel, Anda, Barenboim, Arrau, and countless others, and I have to say after careful considerations that this version with Uchida and Tate is simply the best. I've noticed that the others all take the 2nd movement too fast, whereas the true beauty is fully revealed when played slower, as it is done here.

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21.......2006-11-12

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a brilliant recording and Uchida does such a fine job playing the piano the Mozart himself would have been pleased. Jeffrey Tate also does a bang up job and one most give him praise for his fine work on this recording. Mozart's music is so accomplished and refined that only three other composers can even said to come close to his talent and skill (Beethoven, Bach and Wagner). Mozart has the ability to make his music sound very simple and easy to play but if one examines a score for a piece written by Mozart then one realizes the complexity and nuances that Mozart is able to put into his "simple" sounding music. This recording per se is a stroke of true brilliance and I definitely give it 5 out of 5 stars without any reservations whatsoever.

Wonderful!.......2004-05-29

Mozart was one of a kind! Truly beautiful piano work.

Yummy, some delicious moments.......2003-01-12

As the saying goes, "Mozart is Music" and Uchida is Mozart! On this recording, you have two of the most popular Mozart piano concertos in modern performance(that is, played on a very big grand piano--not a fortepiano as they would've been in Mozart's day).

Uchida is crisp and technically correct, though perhaps, as some other reviewers have noted,lacking the passion of other artists' recordings. In the familiar No. 21 ("Elvira Madigan") the cadenzas are Uchidas. In No. 20 the cadenzas are Beethovens--thrilling!

The recording sounds as if it was done in a marble hall of a very grand Chateau, although it was probably done in Waltham Town Hall, London, with some discrete manipulation of the sound. The result is rich and resonant.

I'd personally recommend this for a classical music enthusiast who wanted just one CD of Mozart concertos. But perhaps its even better as a slightly obscure recording to give to a friend who already has a CD by another pianist. It's worth it for the track 3 cadenza alone.

Genial.......2002-01-26

I'm okay with Samantha's comments about the conjuntion betwen orchestra and solo (Uchida). They are in occasions at different intensity or dinamic. Orchestra was a little short. I recommend so the Geza Anda's version of the 21 concerto (sublime).

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 6, 17 & 21 / Géza Anda

Average customer rating:

Extraordinary
Concerto recordings that would have pleased Mozart himself
Great Performance
The finest performances of Nos. 17 and 21
The Best 17 ever!

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 6, 17 & 21 / Géza Anda

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
Beethoven: Sonataen - Waldstein, Les Adieux, Appassionata
Debussy: Préludes for Piano, Books 1 & 2
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Carlos Kleiber / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Mozart: Piano Concertos

ASIN: B000001GQO
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

Konzert Nr. 17 G-dur KV 453: I. Allegro
Konzert Nr. 17 G-dur KV 453: II. Andante
Konzert Nr. 17 G-dur KV 453: III. Allegretto
Konzert Nr. 21 C-dur KV 467: I. Allegro
Konzert Nr. 21 C-dur KV 467: II. Andante
Konzert Nr. 21 C-dur KV 467: III. Allegro vivace assai
Konzert Nr. 6 B-dur KV 238: I. Allegro
Konzert Nr. 6 B-dur KV 238: II. Andante un poco adagio
Konzert Nr. 6 B-dur KV 238: III. Rondeau. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary.......2007-02-15

Géza Anda excels, mainly in the two "andantes" that work beautifully as the soundtrack of the movie. Not to be missed!!

Concerto recordings that would have pleased Mozart himself.......2001-07-10

Geza Anda is not as familiar a name in the world of classical piano as is a Daniel Barenboim, Artur Rubenstein, Vladimir Ashkenazy, or Vladimir Horowitz; however, this recording of Mozart's 17th, 21st, and 6th concertos for piano show that Anda's ability to interpret Mozart is perhaps equal to that of the aforementioned pianists. The recording is splendid. It doesn't sound cold, despite the fact that it once carried a reputation for lacking emotion. Instead it sounds very classical, as Mozart would have liked it to have been played. Critics are so used to everything being interpreted romantically(even if it's not from the romantic period) that they forget that some pieces are not meant to be as utterly emotional as a work by Chopin or Liszt. Anda brings out the beauty and life from these mozart piano concertos and does quite a good job with the orchestra which he conducts from the piano. I've heard many versions of these concertos, from many stylistically different pianists like Uchida and Argerich. As far as I'm concerned, Anda performs these concertos better than all others, plus his cadenzas are majestic. On top of that, the sound is perfect, sounding as if it were just recently recorded. Plus at midprice, you couldn't ask for more. This CD truly a bargain, and I highly recommend it to anybody looking for a great interpretation of Mozart.

Great Performance.......2000-10-21

Do yourself a favor, and purchase this over the Serkin (Deutsche Grammophon) version. Anda really shines on the Andante of no. 21. Great Interpretation, Great Performance, and Great Value.

The finest performances of Nos. 17 and 21.......1999-12-26

Geza Anda's performance of Mozart's 21st piano concerto is simply gorgeous. All other performances pale before it. His performance of the 17th concerto is also superb and No. 6 makes a welcome filler. No one who loves Mozart should pass up this disc.

The Best 17 ever!.......1999-08-12

Geza Anda's playing is stellar. After hearing his #17 you won't be able to tolerate anyone else's. Geza Anda was to Mozart what Glen Gould was to Bach. His #21 is beautiful, too.

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

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Similar Items:

Mozart: 46 Symphonies - Berlin Philharmonic / Karl Böhm
Mozart: The Piano Concertos
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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.

Average customer rating:

Just right with a flourish
Music 5 Stars/Ashkenazy 3 Stars
A marriage made in heaven
Simply the best set of Mozart Piano Concertos
THE PINNACLE OF WESTERN MUSIC . . .

Mozart: The Piano Concertos
Vladimir Ashkenazy , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Istvan Kertesz , English Chamber Orchestra , London Symphony Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra of London , Daniel Barenboim , and Fou Ts'ong
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

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ASIN: B0000041KA
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major, K175: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major, K175: II Andante ma un poco adagio
Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major, K175: III Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, K238: I Allegro aperto
Piano Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, K238: II (Andante un poco adagio)
Piano Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, K238: III Rondeau: Allegro
Concerto For Three Painos In F Major, K242: I Allegro
Concerto For Three Painos In F Major, K242: II Adagio
Concerto For Three Painos In F Major, K242: III Rondeau: Tempo di menuetto

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 8 In C Major, K246: I Allegro aperto
Piano Concerto No. 8 In C Major, K246: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 8 In C Major, K246: III Rondeau: Tempo di menuetto
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K271 'Jeunehomme': I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K271 'Jeunehomme': II Andantino
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major, K271 'Jeunehomme': III Rondeau: Presto - Menuetto - Presto
Piano Concerto No. 1In F Major, K37: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 1In F Major, K37: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 1In F Major, K37: III (Allegro)

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 11 In F Major, K413-387a: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 11 In F Major, K413-387a: II Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 11 In F Major, K413-387a: III Tempo di menuetto
Piano Concerto No. 12 In A Major, K414-385p: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 12 In A Major, K414-385p: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 12 In A Major, K414-385p: III Allegretto
Concerto For Two Pianos In E Flat Major, K365-316a: I Allegro
Concerto For Two Pianos In E Flat Major, K365-316a: II Andante
Concerto For Two Pianos In E Flat Major, K365-316a: III Rondeau: Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 13 In C Major, K415-387b: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 13 In C Major, K415-387b: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 13 In C Major, K415-387b: III Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 14 In E Flat Major, K449: I Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto No. 14 In E Flat Major, K449: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 14 In E Flat Major, K449: III Allegro ma non troppo
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat Major, K450: I Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat Major, K450: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 15 In B Flat Major, K450: III Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K451: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K451: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 16 In D Major, K451: III Allegro di molto
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, K453: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, K453: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, K453: III Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, K39: I Allegro spiritoso
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, K39: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, K39: III Molto allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 18 In B Flat Major, K456: I Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto No. 18 In B Flat Major, K456: II Andante un poco sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 18 In B Flat Major, K456: III Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F Major, K459: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F Major, K459: II Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F Major, K459: III Allegro assai
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Major, K40: I Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Major, K40: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Major, K40: III Presto

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K466: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K466: II Romance
Piano Concerto No. 20 In D Minor, K466: III Rondo: Allegro assai
Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat Major, K482: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat Major, K482: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 22 In E Flat Major, K482: III Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467: I Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467: III Allegro vivace assai
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K488: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K488: II Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major, K488: III Presto
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, K41: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, K41: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, K41: III Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K491: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K491: II Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 24 In C Minor, K491: III Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C Major, K503: I Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C Major, K503: II Andante
Piano Concerto No. 25 In C Major, K503: III Allegretto
Rondo In D Major, K382

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 26 In D Major, K537 - 'Coronation': I Allegro
II Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 26 In D Major, K537 - 'Coronation': III Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat Major, K595: I Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat Major, K595: II Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 27 In B Flat Major, K595: III Allegro
Rondo In A Major, K386

Customer Reviews:

Just right with a flourish.......2007-01-12

Requires the least possible effort beyond the normal exertion of attention
reserved for listening to simple background pleasantries. Lovely in other words, not pretentious at all, nothing else is required anywhere on a daily basis, still I suspect that most of you wouldn't mind a change now and again.

Music 5 Stars/Ashkenazy 3 Stars.......2006-04-25

Sorry but from listening to the 1 minute clip of the final movement pc 21, I have to go with Uchida, who in my opinion is the master of Mozart's last 8 pc;s.
I do not care for uchida's recordings of the 1-19, too thick handed for the style of those concertos.
Quick, nimble, playful was not present in Uchida of the 1-19.
Ashkenazy here is too busy with conducting to get the piano down with perfect nuances, which Mozart demands.

EDIT, I've just added to more clip r4eviews , opening move 21 and opening from the 24th pc. Reconfirms my opinuion that Uchida is much better articulated. And though Tate is aweful in the syms , in the pc's he's much more on to of things concentrating in conducting. Ashkenazy is juggling both, successful at times I'll admit. At other times sloppy. Its impossible for any performer to both conduct and play paino. Impossible as this set shows.
Nice Day

A marriage made in heaven.......2004-12-24

Rarely do soloists and orchestras create such an amazing musical experience. Even more rare is that this experience is duplicated over two dozen times. Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra create what is truly one of the crowning achievements of audiophile history.

I have owned this set now for nearly half a decade and I am still surprised by Ashkenazy's level of musicianship. Not that I have ever doubted his skill, rather, I am still amazed that this master of Rachmaninoff and the romantics approaches these pieces so perfectly. Ashkenazy plays these concertos as they should be played. His typical sense of drama is somewhat subdued, replaced with a sublime sense of delicacy and classical phrasing. He brings out the beautiful chromaticism, the magical melodies, and the pure beauty of Mozart effortlessly.

What is even more wonderful is that the orchestral accompaniment is top notch. Although these are not period performances, the Philharmonia plays with a classical grace and level of perfection that push these performances over the top. The orchestra's sound is full, accompanying Ashkenazy's "full" sound quite well. As mentioned above, Ashkenazy (who conducts these performances from the piano) instills in the orchestra the perfect balance of classical grace and dramatic flair.

Finally, the recorded sound is flawless. This set is so appealing to me because Ashkenazy approaches these performances in an organized, coherent fashion. Unlike his set of the Beethoven concertos (where Ashkenazy's technique, phrasing, and ultimate interpretation is dramatically different in each concerto), Ashkenazy maintains a sense of classical style throughout the cycle. And not only are the interpretations so consistent, but the sound is as well. It almost seems as if all the concertos were recorded in one session.

Moments like this are rare in music. There are certainly individual performances of the concertos that may be more appealing here or there, but all in all Ashkenazy's cycle delivers the most consistently fresh, powerful, and beautiful interpretations. For those that are not sure they want to invest so much for this set, look into Decca's CD of the "Big Six" concertos (20-25) on two CDs. But you would be missing out. Ashkenazy does not "run through" the earlier concertos but actually plays them all as if they were all equally masterful. I highly recommend this set. It is a wonderful musical investment.

Simply the best set of Mozart Piano Concertos.......2004-12-09

Ashkenazy's style is a very good fit with Mozart's piano works: light, articulate and playful. I could never part with this set. Those who only listen to the most popular concertos are missing out on some of the earlier works, which are just stunningly beautiful. The numerous scales in Mozart's scores represent a huge technical challenge, and Ashkenazy's natural fluidity makes the music very smooth and moving.

The orchestra is well balanced and remarkably well recorded. Overall, this is by far the best complete set of concertos out there. Warmly recommended.

THE PINNACLE OF WESTERN MUSIC . . ........2004-04-17

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. . . indeed, the pinnacle of musical achievement on Planet Earth - that's what I consider the piano concertos of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And what better way to hear these concertos than in this superb cycle by Vladimir Ashkenazy. Though you may find an occasional performance that you prefer outside of this set, it is still, in my opinion, the only complete and best overall cycle of Mozart piano concertos - sure to provide you with hours of pleasure.

Ray Hoole's spotlight review above is very good and correct in calling attention to the recording concerns with Concerto No. 17 (K. 453) in this set. Still, only one flawed recording out of twenty-nine isn't bad. If No. 17 is a favorite of yours, as it certainly is of mine, may I suggest you augment this set with "MOZART: Piano Concertos (The Rubinstein Collection Vol. 61)" - RCA label, a small 2 CD album which contains concertos 17, 20, 21, 23 & 24. Not only is Arthur Rubinstein's 1961 performance of No. 17 superior to this one by Ashkenazy (in my opinion), the piano/orchestral balance is perfect in this beautifully remastered recording (and you're sure to like the other Rubinstein concerto performances as well).

Though the reviews for this set are overwhelmingly positive, you'll note an occasional preference for another artist's performances. This is only normal and amounts to purely subjective personal opinion. I've found that often times the first performance one hears of a particular classical piece (particularly if it's good) stays with that person for quite a while, sometimes indefinitely, and flavors the impression of all other performances heard thereafter. Personal preferences of tempo, artistic expression - such as cadenzas used, and orchestration will then be conciously, and subconciously, compared to that first exposure. I say this to make a point. The quality of the performances in this set by Vladimir Ashkenazy are definitely of the caliber needed to make first-time listeners feel certain they are hearing the best, while making more experienced listeners sure they are hearing first rate performances that, if not the absolute best, are certainly among the best they've ever heard. No two ways about it, MOZART: THE PIANO CONCERTOS by Vladimir Ashkenzy and the Philharmonia Orchestra is a 5 star cycle . . . Enjoy!

Mozart: Piano Concertos 14,17 & 21
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Mozart: Piano Concertos 14,17 & 21

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Allegro Vivace
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Allegro
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Allegro
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Average customer rating:

RUN - not walk - to pick this up!!
From the sublime to the merely good.
Meh...
In spite of...
Great Piano Concerto Collection

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Manufacturer: Philips
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ASIN: B0000069CV
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467 (Elvira Madigan): 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467 (Elvira Madigan): Andante
Concerto No. 21 In C, KV 467 (Elvira Madigan): Allegro vivace assai
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Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Quasi adagio - Liszt
Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato
Concerto No. 1 In E Flat, S. 124: Allegro marziale animato - Liszt

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Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 < >: Allegro
Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 < >: Adagio un poco mosso
Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 < >: Rondo. Allegro
Concerto symphonique No. 4, Op. 102: Scherzo
Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Moderato
Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Allegro scherzando

Customer Reviews:

RUN - not walk - to pick this up!!.......2006-10-30

I purchased this CD set on eBay for less than $2 some time ago. Reviews here on Amazon are usually written by people who buy the CD from Amazon, but this set has brought me so much pleasure that I am obliged to - nay, MUST - write a review here to spread the word. :)

I have been a classical aficionado for the last 6 years or so, and have to date accumulated a collection of >150 classical CDs. Artistic merit aside, I am picky about recorded quality; most of my listening is done through headphones (AKG k501), so poor sound quality in a CD is a big no-no for me.

I'll get sound quality out of the way first then - the SQ on this set varies from good to excellent. Sometimes the miking may come across as a little too warm (Rachmaninov) or a wee bit hollow sounding (Chopin), but there is nothing major to complain about here. There is a spot of easily noticed distortion in the first 10 seconds of the Emperor (more on that later).

I originally purchased this set for just one performance in particular - Clara Haskil's Chopin #2. This particular performance has been out of print for some time and was last available as part of an exorbitantly priced set (Clara Haskil: Legacy) that is now impossible to find.

In a nutshell, Haskil's performance alone is worth the full price of the entire set. The playing in the 2nd movement is absolutely magical - Haskil interprets Chopin with a delicacy and refinement that is difficult to put into words. Her playing brings to mind something my old piano teacher once told me - "Anyone can play Chopin, but few can play Chopin well". The way the solo melodic line is strung together at ~41 seconds into the 2nd movement will send shivers down your spine. Beauty too rich for use / for earth too dear, indeed.

But wait - there's more!

Imagine my surprise when another of the performances in this set turned out to be a 'sleeper hit': Brendel's Beethoven #5 ("Emperor"). I quickly grew to prefer Brendel's Emperor over my 'reference' recording - Pollini with Abbado (part of a very expensive DG 3CD set!). Brendel plays with more emotion and warmth - his Emperor comes off as truly majestic when compared to Abbado, who comes off as a little more magisterial and cold. There is a spot of piano clatter about 10 seconds into the first movement, but it is nothing major and certainly does not detract from the beautiful playing that follows.

Unfortunately Brendel's Elvira Madigan comes across as faaaaar tooooo slooooowwwww (for my taste). The playing is mannered, and there is none of the wiry elegance that should (in my opinion) characterise interpretations of music written during the Classical period. I much prefer my Pires with Abbado on DG for this concerto.

Janis's Rachmaninov #2 is worth a mention as well. Tape hiss on this recording is noticeable on headphones, but not overly prominent. There are few options for the Rach 2nd nowadays - Ashkenazy's warhorse is the usual (and nearly unanimous) recommendation.

Byron Janis was (in?)famous due to his being one of Vladimir Horowitz's two 'officially' recognised pupils, yet I find little Horowitz in this interpretation. There is none of the bravado and bold impulsiveness that characterised Horowitz's earlier work, no awkward mannerisms that characterised his middle work and none of the introspectiveness and coolness that characterised his late work.

What you will get instead is a well-measured and 'polite' Rach #2 with rather melancholy overtones, I find. Certainly a viable alternative to the Ashkenazy mentioned earlier, but a choice subject to personal taste. I prefer my own copy on Naxos by Jando.

I am not familiar with the Litolff and the Liszt, so I shall reserve comment on their respective readings. They are both well recorded though - warm and expansive.

From the sublime to the merely good........2006-04-27

This collection is an absolute steal. Three of the concerto recordings are unsurpassed. The Haskil Chopin is legendary, Richter's Liszt is colossal and Janis's Rachmaninoff is absolutely formidable. Brendel's recordings of Mozart and Beethoven are on a lesser level of achievement, but never less than good.

It should be noted that the Liszt and Rachmaninoff are Mercury Living Presence recordings, and if you've never heard a recording with only 3 well-placed mics, they do sound different from the usual 25-plus microphone recordings we are usually blessed (cursed) with.

At this price, one of the absolute CD bargains of all time.

Meh..........2006-03-28

This collection serves as a descent introduction to some great piano concertos, but the performances are not the best and the recording quality of most of them leaves much to be desired for me. I learned my lesson with regards to the 'best of' classical collections. Personally I'd rather have gotten great recordings of great performances of great classical pieces for a little more money.

In spite of..........2005-06-21

The problem with a heterogeneous collection like this one is that you may like some of the concertos, but not all. I have never found any better recording of Chopin's 2nd concerto than the one with Haskil/Markevitch, so this alone is worth the price, hence my five stars - only for that one! Brendel on Mozart's 21st is also one of many nice accounts. The others are not good enough, if you ask me. Chopin's 2nd by Haskil/Markevitch carries the stars; it is pure magic!

Great Piano Concerto Collection.......2003-07-03

Back in the days before I became a serious collector of classical music, I had this title. What a wonderful introduction it was for me, and if all you are looking for is some first rate performances of some of the best loved Piano Concertos ever written, then this disc is for you. Of course, I no longer own this CD, but I still have all of the individual performances (save the Litolff by Dichter/Marriner) on more comprehensive collections -- the Mozart on the Philips Duo of the "Great Mozart Piano Concertos" featuring Brendel and Marriner, the Chopin on the now o.o.p. Clara Haskil Legacy Vol. 2, the Liszt on a recently reissued Philips 50 title, the Beethoven on the new 3CD Universal Trio collection, and the Rach 2 on good old Mercury Living Presence -- and they are still among my favorites. If you buy this set, just be prepared to upgrade like I did.

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Bravo! Maestro
The best piano ensemble performance I have heard in years
One of the best versions of one of the best pieces of music
Mozart for royalty
One of my all-time favorite CD's

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 27

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000279R
Release Date: 1991-06-14

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano & Orchestra No. 21 In C Major, K. 467: I. Allegro maestoso
Concerto For Piano & Orchestra No. 21 In C Major, K. 467: II. Andante
Concerto For Piano & Orchestra No. 21 In C Major, K. 467: III. Allegro vivace assai
Concerto for Piano And Orchestra No. 27 In B-Flat Major, K. 595: I. Allegro
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Customer Reviews:

Bravo! Maestro.......2006-02-16

I am a fan of Mr.Perahia's Mozart Piano Concertos.
This recording is truly exceptional, not only among his Mozart recordings but you may regard this CD the best piano concerto ever recorded!

The sound quality is very good for Sony classical label, which is often edgy and overly bright on revealing audiophile playback system.

I just cannot describe the gallantry and finesse of this remarkable recording.
Music starts where word ends its meaning.

Just listen to Mr.Perahia's playing.

Bravo! Maestro.

The best piano ensemble performance I have heard in years.......2003-10-07

I happened to catch the first half of this CD, piano concerto no. 21, on public radio just now. I had frozen food sitting in my car beside me, but I couldn't leave because I didn't want to miss a note. I sat there for half an hour, not caring that my groceries for the next few days will probably suffer from freezer burn. Every five minutes, I said to myself, "Who *are* you?"

This is truly an amazing performance. So many pianists, being bound to an instrument that cannot be tuned "on the fly" as it were, don't seem to be aware that it is possible to affect tone on the piano, and so their playing sounds 2-dimensional (I would say "flat," but don't want to be misunderstood). Perahia is one of the only performers I have ever heard who does not suffer from this failing. Each note is perfectly executed, and rings like a bell; his playing so fluid, there are no obvious stops and starts between phrases--it is like listening to a bubbling fountain. His blending is perfection; when his part requires a soloist's flair, the notes sing out beautifully without overwhelming the orchestra; when he is supposed to be "part of the group," i.e., not the soloist, he blends so well that he almost sounds like one of the other instruments. At times I could almost swear he had taken up the flute or oboe for part of the performance.

In lauding Perahia, though, let me not neglect to mention the beautiful sound of the orchestra (Chamber Orchestra of Europe). They, too, seem divinely inspired, never overwhelming, perfectly in tune (which is rather rare these days). They, too, are perfectly blended: not a single note sounding either superfluous or harsh. Truly, you cannot separate the orchestra from the soloist in this performance.

I cannot say enough about this recording; on the basis of hearing the first part of it alone, I am giving it 5 stars.

One of the best versions of one of the best pieces of music.......2001-11-30

Given that the Mozart Concerto K 467 is probably my favorite piece of music I do not judge its interpretations lightly. I find the version to be sublime. Mind you my measuring stick is the Andante which must have a good balance between the bass of the orchestra and the piano melody. I like the Concero No. 27 but I don't think it's in the same league as the no. 21., but it's still a beautiful piece of music. Moreover, Perahia is one of the very best Mozart pianists and this version is excellent.
I recommend Mozart's piano concerto no. 9,15, 17, 25, 20, 24 for thsoe whoc can appreciate the intricate contrast of melancholy and more 'optimistic' melodies that Mozart was so good at weaving. I believ that the piano concertos represent Mozart's best work and provide the most accurate glimpse of the man's character. Gregarious and playful but also introverted, contemplative and melancholy. He was truly human. Yet, somehow, these human qualities inspire the divine. if there is a god he is to be found in this music. I'm not exagerating, Listen.. and I challenge you to find an adequate way to describe the music. Goethe, Stendhal, Chopin and countless others tried, but......

Mozart for royalty.......2000-10-28

What a pleasure it is to listen to Perahia's performance of the 21st Concerto after becoming accustomed to a recording on period instruments. Much as I enjoy period performance in its own way, there is just no substitute for the polish and regal finesse of modern instruments. And who better than Murray Perahia to demonstrate the assets of the modern piano, such as its rich but pure tone and the way it permits even scales? The Chamber Orchestra of Europe sounds full-bodied of tone, too, in this excellent recording but they never overwhelm the soloist and always remain stylishly within scale. The performance of the 27th Concerto is no less understanding and clean-lined although I seem to recall that the Serkin/Szell recording for CBS brought out more of its valedictory qualities. These are not the only recordings you will want of these works but they certainly are centrally recommendable.

One of my all-time favorite CD's.......1999-05-01

I love this CD. Murray Perahia is an acknowledged premiere interpreter of Mozart. A must for Mozart fans.

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