Mozart piano sonatas

[Sorin Eushayson]

Here you go!

Q

Thank you, Que! 

It sounds to me like Bislon's using a Walter replica, am I correct?

[Que]

Thank you, Que! 

It sounds to me like Bislon's using a Walter replica, am I correct?

Have the same impression, though maybe somebody with that set can confirm?
BTW the instrument seems badly recorded, sounds clunky.

Musically I wasn't convinced by the samples either. The reissued Lubimov set sounds much more interesting to my ears for a 2nd set next to the Brautigam I have now.



Q

[Sorin Eushayson]

Have the same impression, though maybe somebody with that set can confirm?
BTW the instrument seems badly recorded, sounds clunky.

Musically I wasn't convinced by the samples either. The reissued Lubimov set sounds much more interesting to my ears for a 2nd set next to the Brautigam I have now.

I would have to agree with all of the above.  Brautigam's is probably the best approach I've heard, methinks.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Well -- tell me a couple of sonatas which you think are outstanding in the set and I'll listen again.

Well, to be honest, there isn't a single sonata where I feel Uchida isn't the front-runner, excepting K.310 where Richter is the sublimiest. So it's open-ended as far as what to choose.

If you've heard her in the stand-alone Adagio in B minor, K.540, you've perhaps heard her at her absolute best in solo Mozart. It's the peak of her cycle even though the work isn't a sonata - but it gets the treatment it fully deserves.

Otherwise, all four of the K.330 through K.333 sonatas are gorgeous, as is the K.457 sonata (plus the K.475 Fantasy).

[Herman]

Well, to be honest, there isn't a single sonata where I feel Uchida isn't the front-runner, excepting K.310 where Richter is the sublimiest. So it's open-ended as far as what to choose.

If you've heard her in the stand-alone Adagio in B minor, K.540, you've perhaps heard her at her absolute best in solo Mozart. It's the peak of her cycle even though the work isn't a sonata - but it gets the treatment it fully deserves.

Otherwise, all four of the K.330 through K.333 sonatas are gorgeous, as is the K.457 sonata (plus the K.475 Fantasy).

Uchida's Mozart sonatas are fine, but I would not call hers the exemplary Mozart sonata set. Her Mozart is quite the romantic, very heavy at times. So I'd think you'd need a more claasicist antidote, like Walter Klien. Or Casadesus.

AFAIC Richter has little or no business in Mozart sonatas.

[jlaurson]

Uchida's Mozart sonatas are fine, but I would not call hers the exemplary Mozart sonata set. Her Mozart is quite the romantic, very heavy at times. So I'd think you'd need a more claasicist antidote, like Walter Klien. Or Casadesus.

AFAIC Richter has little or no business in Mozart sonatas.

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/11/in-mozart-heaven-two-wings-for-uchida.html
In Mozart-Heaven Two Wings for Uchida


Uchida's Mozart Sonatas for the bedroom; Larrocha for the office. I haven't heard a complete set that's more classicist-matter-of-factly than Larrocha and it's the ideal foil (or rather: complement) to Uchida's heart-warmingly indulgent Mozart.


Straining for topicality: Did I mention Pollini reigns supreme in the last Beethoven Sonatas?

[Mandryka]

As much as I am enjoying this Mozart discussion, perhaps a moderator could move it to this existing thread?

You're are so neat and tidy it's unbelievable!

[Gurn Blanston]

Snipped off from the Beethoven thread

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Uchida's Mozart sonatas are fine, but I would not call hers the exemplary Mozart sonata set.

I certainly would. And, in fact, I did.

Her Mozart is quite the romantic, very heavy at times. So I'd think you'd need a more claasicist antidote, like Walter Klien. Or Casadesus.

I need no "antidotes"! I've heard all you've listed (and much more) and enjoy Uchida most.

AFAIC Richter has little or no business in Mozart sonatas.

Yes, we know. No need to keep regurgitating this over and over...

[Mandryka]

If you've heard her in the stand-alone Adagio in B minor, K.540, you've perhaps heard her at her absolute best in solo Mozart. . . .
Otherwise, all four of the K.330 through K.333 sonatas are gorgeous, as is the K.457 sonata (plus the K.475 Fantasy).

Appreciate your pointers and I will listent to the pieces you mention.

Right now I am appreciating Richter's and Brendel's (latest) Mozart more than anyone else's though.

AFAIC Richter has little or no business in Mozart sonatas.

As you know I love Richter's Mozart on that late DVD -- did you ever get a chance to listen to it?

[George]

I'm surprised to see no mention of Myra Hess in this thread (unless the search engine isn't working correctly.) Her set on Music and Arts is a treasure.

I got a Kempff Mozart CD recently that I plan to spin soon. 

[Bulldog]

I need no "antidotes"! I've heard all you've listed (and much more) and enjoy Uchida most.

Same here, and I don't find Uchida's Mozart heavy at all.

[Dr. Dread]

Same here, and I don't find Uchida's Mozart heavy at all.

Me neither.

[Herman]

As I said, they're fine.* I just would not want it as my reference set. If some of you do that's up to you.

Michael Endres on Oehms is a fine, recently recorded set with classicist leanings; I seem to recall Todd liked it too.

*I like her PC recordings a lot better than her sonatas

[Holden]

I had the Uchida Mozart PS (most of them anyway) then I heard Klara Wurtz. The Uchida is gone with one exception, the D minor Fantasy which I've never heard any one come close to except Gilels. Her way of finishing it makes sense to me (Mozart left it unfinished).

[George]

I had the Uchida Mozart PS (most of them anyway) then I heard Klara Wurtz. The Uchida is gone with one exception, the D minor Fantasy which I've never heard any one come close to except Gilels. Her way of finishing it makes sense to me (Mozart left it unfinished).

Thanks for the info, Holden, I wasn't aware of that.

[Mandryka]

Well, to be honest, there isn't a single sonata where I feel Uchida isn't the front-runner, excepting K.310 where Richter is the sublimiest. So it's open-ended as far as what to choose.

If you've heard her in the stand-alone Adagio in B minor, K.540, you've perhaps heard her at her absolute best in solo Mozart. It's the peak of her cycle even though the work isn't a sonata - but it gets the treatment it fully deserves.

Otherwise, all four of the K.330 through K.333 sonatas are gorgeous, as is the K.457 sonata (plus the K.475 Fantasy).

Well – I have tried to see what people like about Uchida. And I will persist. But up to now I stick my initial judgement – perfect trills and no depth.

In KV. 330 she just means nothing to me even though I can see it's all exquisitely executed and completely inoffensive. It's just so fussy, so girly. Compared with others there's not so much dynamic range; compared with others there's not so much expressiveness.; compared with others there's not so much excitement.

Which others?   – Gould live in Salzburg, Horowitz, and Walter Klien – and that's without thinking too hard.

While ferreting around for Unchida's Mozart I did find something which really did catch my attention – it's the Rondo KV. 511 on her GPOC.

I thought it was  so perfect – so beautifully carved – I kept thinking of that jade sculpture that Yeats writes about, or an extraordinary gold salt in the shape of a ship I once saw in The Victoria and Albert Museum. If there's more like this then maybe I am too quick to dismiss this pianist's Mozart.

I tried with the Adagio KV. 576. And yes, I quite like it. But I don't know this piece well so I will hold off judging it for a while. I've just ordered Yudina's to compare and contrast (can you imagine those two at a dinner party – Yudina and Uchida?)

Anyway thanks Dancing Divertimentian for inspiring me to listen.

[Herman]

In 330 she just means noting to me even though I can see it's all exquisitely executed and completely inoffensive. It's just so fussy, so girly. Compared with others there's not so much dynamic range; compared with others there's not so much expressiveness.; compared with others there's not so much excitement.

There is quite a bit of dynamic range and expressiveness in Uchida's Mozart sonatas; more actually than is warranted by the music. Yes, she is a little fussy at times; I don't see why that would be "girly" since Gould is three times as fussy.

[George]

I tried with the Adagio KV. 576. And yes, I quite like it. But I don't know this piece well so I will hold off judging it for a while. I've just ordered Yudina's to compare and contrast (can you imagine those two at a dinner party – Yudina and Uchida?)

Uchida had better be on time, or there wouldn't be any food left.  

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Well – I have tried to see what people like about Uchida. And I will persist. But up to now I stick my initial judgement – perfect trills and no depth.

In KV. 330 she just means nothing to me even though I can see it's all exquisitely executed and completely inoffensive. It's just so fussy, so girly. Compared with others there's not so much dynamic range; compared with others there's not so much expressiveness.; compared with others there's not so much excitement.

Which others?   – Gould live in Salzburg, Horowitz, and Walter Klien – and that's without thinking too hard.

While ferreting around for Unchida's Mozart I did find something which really did catch my attention – it's the Rondo KV. 511 on her GPOC.

I thought it was  so perfect – so beautifully carved – I kept thinking of that jade sculpture that Yeats writes about, or an extraordinary gold salt in the shape of a ship I once saw in The Victoria and Albert Museum. If there's more like this then maybe I am too quick to dismiss this pianist's Mozart.

I tried with the Adagio KV. 576. And yes, I quite like it. But I don't know this piece well so I will hold off judging it for a while. I've just ordered Yudina's to compare and contrast (can you imagine those two at a dinner party – Yudina and Uchida?)

Anyway thanks Dancing Divertimentian for inspiring me to listen.

Well, it's all subjective. What can I say? Honestly, my feelings are a complete 180º from yours - Uchida isn't the least bit fussy to my ears, especially when compared to Gould!   

Anyway, I guess in this we'll part ways and continue to enjoy Mozart's keyboard music with our respective favorites.