Mozart piano sonatas

[Jo498]

In that Peter Serkin box the sonatas K 457 and 533/494 are included as well as fantasies etc. K 475, 394, 397, rondos 485, 511. They are highly individual, some might say "romanticized" interpretations. Later he recorded some on a fortepiano? (there is a later disc with the last two sonatas and again the "rondos"), I prefer the more straightforwardly played concertos (they seem also recorded in better sound)  but the solo pieces are certainly interesting and played considerably more unconventionally than the concertos.

ASIN : B07MTJLXCG ‎

[asin]B07MTJLXCG[/asin]

[Mandryka]

In that Peter Serkin box the sonatas K 457 and 533/494 are included as well as fantasies etc. K 475, 394, 397, rondos 485, 511. They are highly individual, some might say "romanticized" interpretations. Later he recorded some on a fortepiano? (there is a later disc with the last two sonatas and again the "rondos"), I prefer the more straightforwardly played concertos (they seem also recorded in better sound)  but the solo pieces are certainly interesting and played considerably more unconventionally than the concertos.

ASIN : B07MTJLXCG ‎

[asin]B07MTJLXCG[/asin]

Thanks, I either never knew these recordings existed or I just passed them over - I'll check these sonatas out, I'm getting very interested in the sonatas again.

[Jo498]

These were 2 LPs recorded 1967-69 (whereas the concertos are from 1973), I have never seen them on CD but unlike the concertos I never searched for them. The later disc I saw was on Pro Arte. As I don't do streaming I don't know about availability from streaming services.

[SonicMan46]

William Youn, Korean pianist living in Germany now - box of 5 CDs recorded between 2013-16 - new arrival from JPC (just under 20 Euros) - I was happy w/ my 4 sets, 2 each on PIs & MIs shown below - but was impressed by the Youn reviews (not much yet but some attached, along with the others for those interested).

Really enjoying Youn this morning - light touch but sufficient dynamics for my ears - will be interested in responses from others - Dave

   

 

[Todd]

Since I recommended it, I can say that I do rather enjoy it.  Indeed, Mr Youn rates among my favorite living pianists, bats 1.000, and his Mozart cycle now sets the pace for me.  His touch just sounds magical, nearly hypnotizing me in everything he does.

My Mozart sonata cycle collecting has slowed to nothing basically, and remains at thirty-nine versions.  Only two are HIP, and right now I don't know if I can take any more.  My rankings, internationally regarded as the definitive, objective ranking system for piano sonata cycles, is below.


Top Tier
William Youn
Michael Endres
Lili Kraus (mono)
Walter Klien
Maria Joao Pires (Denon)
Siegfried Mauser
Fazil Say
Roberto Prosseda
Andras Schiff
Eric Heidsieck


Second Tier
Roland Batik
Ikuyo Nakamichi
Lili Kraus (stereo)
Leon McCawley
Christian Zacharias
Claudio Arrau
Francois Dumont
Vlado Perlemuter
Carl Seeman
Christoph Eschenbach


Third Tier
Daniel Barenboim
Karl Engel
Peter Katin
Mitsuko Ucihda
Walter Gieseking
Maria Joao Pires (DG)
Friedrich Gulda
Klara Wurtz
Alicia de Larrocha
Maritno Tirimo


Fourth Tier
Hans Leygraf
Gitti Pirner
Robert Silverman
Mitsuko Uchida
Marta Deyanova (Third tier performances, bottom tier sound)
Alexei Lubimov
Bart van Oort
Daniel Ben-Pienaar
Heidi Lowy  (so, so, so bad)

[SonicMan46]

Since I recommended it, I can say that I do rather enjoy it.  Indeed, Mr Youn rates among my favorite living pianists, bats 1.000, and his Mozart cycle now sets the pace for me.  His touch just sounds magical, nearly hypnotizing me in everything he does.

My Mozart sonata cycle collecting has slowed to nothing basically, and remains at thirty-nine versions.  Only two are HIP, and right now I don't know if I can take any more.  My rankings, internationally regarded as the definitive, objective ranking system for piano sonata cycles, is below.

Thanks Todd for your 'tier ranking' (did a little space-saving above) - giving William Youn another listening today and really enjoying; Michael Endres is also a keeper for me - I'll have to give Daniel Ben-Pienaar a spin this afternoon - I liked him in the past and his reviews have been quite positive except for a 'clunker' in BBC Magazine (attached for those interested).  Dave

[Florestan]

FWIW, my current top three, in no particular order:

Christian Zacharias
Fazil Say
Maria Joao Pires (Denon)

[SonicMan46]

FWIW, my current top three, in no particular order:

Christian Zacharias
Fazil Say
Maria Joao Pires (Denon)

Hi Andrei - just curious how many sets do you own/heard that are below those top 3?  Also, any PI favorites?  Thanks - Dave

[Florestan]

Hi Andrei - just curious how many sets do you own/heard that are below those top 3?  Also, any PI favorites?  Thanks - Dave

Hi, Dave. Beside those three, I have the following complete sets.

PI: Paul Badura-Skoda, Bart van Oort, Kristian Bezuidenhout.

MI: Paul Badura-Skoda, Alicia de Larrocha, Mitsuko Uchida, Ingrid Haebler, Maria Joao Pires (Denon), Maria Joao Pires (DG), Reine Gianoli, Daniel Barenboim, Vlado Perlemuter, Klara Wuertz, Christoph Eschenbach, Eric Heidsieck, Jean Muller, Mao Fujita, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Peter Donohoe, Andras Schiff, Roberto Prosseda, Walter Klien, Lili Kraus, Claudio Arrau.

 

[Mandryka]

 Gieseking. Stoic melancholy.

[milk]

Youn's D major adagio. (K. 576) is stellar.

[Mandryka]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYEqHppBbKk&ab_channel=BowdoinInternationalMusicFestival

Peter Serkin 310.

[Mandryka]

Since I recommended it, I can say that I do rather enjoy it.  Indeed, Mr Youn rates among my favorite living pianists, bats 1.000, and his Mozart cycle now sets the pace for me.  His touch just sounds magical, nearly hypnotizing me in everything he does.

My Mozart sonata cycle collecting has slowed to nothing basically, and remains at thirty-nine versions.  Only two are HIP, and right now I don't know if I can take any more.  My rankings, internationally regarded as the definitive, objective ranking system for piano sonata cycles, is below.


Top Tier
William Youn
Michael Endres
Lili Kraus (mono)
Walter Klien
Maria Joao Pires (Denon)
Siegfried Mauser
Fazil Say
Roberto Prosseda
Andras Schiff
Eric Heidsieck


Second Tier
Roland Batik
Ikuyo Nakamichi
Lili Kraus (stereo)
Leon McCawley
Christian Zacharias
Claudio Arrau
Francois Dumont
Vlado Perlemuter
Carl Seeman
Christoph Eschenbach


Third Tier
Daniel Barenboim
Karl Engel
Peter Katin
Mitsuko Ucihda
Walter Gieseking
Maria Joao Pires (DG)
Friedrich Gulda
Klara Wurtz
Alicia de Larrocha
Maritno Tirimo


Fourth Tier
Hans Leygraf
Gitti Pirner
Robert Silverman
Mitsuko Uchida
Marta Deyanova (Third tier performances, bottom tier sound)
Alexei Lubimov
Bart van Oort
Daniel Ben-Pienaar
Heidi Lowy  (so, so, so bad)

I'm listening to Leygraf play 533 now,  and found this reference. Judging by this sonata, I think you may have been  a bit harsh actually.  I noticed an old post of yours where you commented about an earlier sonata that it seemed like he was in a hurry - that's not the case here.

[San Antone]

Christoph Eschenbach's set (LP box) was my first cycle and is forever imprinted on my brain. But since then, others have made an impression:

Andras Schiff
Maria Joao Pires
Alicia de Larrocha
Mitsuko Ucihda

[George]

A long time ago I purchased the Christoph Eschenbach box set (on LP) and really liked it, wore it out actually; but had nothing to compare it to.  Since then, I've heard most of the PI sets but no longer enjoy period keyboards. 

So, I agree with the Kraus, Pires and Uchida recs - and still enjoy the Christoph Eschenbach set, now on CD.

By way of home made cassette recording from a friend, the Eschenbach was my first set too. I listened to that set repeatedly while studying for tests in college. I had heard that listening to Mozart can improve memory and problem solving. But yeah, I also enjoy Uchida (her concerto set is wonderful too) and the Kraus Mozart recordings. I have yet to replace my old cassettes (long gone) with CDs, but may do that soon. I'm listening to his Mozart via Spotify this morning and his interpretations sound so alive, so right.     

[Mandryka]

Uchida's solo Mozart is completely lost on me, people are obviously hearing things which are just going over my head. I never come across anything which feels interestingly or beautifully shaped, or expressively powerful and intense. I'm totally open to the idea that she has other virtues which I'm not taking into account, - but if so, what are they? And I'm totally open to the idea that I've been deaf while listening - but if so, where are the bits I need to try to hear again with more open ears?

[amw]

What are people's thoughts on the recent Yeol Eum Son cycle?

[Todd]

What are people's thoughts on the recent Yeol Eum Son cycle?

Superb start to finish, with sometimes astonishing clarity that can create a clinical feel sometimes.  Her precise dynamic shading is second to none.  Top tier, but it's hard to say if she supplants the very different Youn at the top.

[George]

Now enjoying the superb Mozart piano sonatas from this set. Earlier I listened to some of the DG CD Eschenbach set. The performance is great, but the sound is top heavy, unbalanced. A shame. The Kraus set is mono and it sounds better than the late sixties stereo sound on the Eschenbach DG CDs. 

[Mandryka]

What are people's thoughts on the recent Yeol Eum Son cycle?

Large scale in interpretation, like little symphonies for piano.

(The discussion of Mozart's sonatas on this thread really is an example of how each listener hears different things.)