Mozart Piano Concertos

[Spotted Horses]

I recently was asked which set of Mozart concertos I would take to a desert island. Anda was my pick. Uchida is my newest set, so I'd be tempted to take that one, but I think in the end I'd choose Anda. Schiff and Perahia are both up there, for different reasons, but Anda is my tried and true set. It was gifted to me by a kind GMGer a number of years ago (thank you!) 

I have to admire Uchida's skill but her approach strikes me as too "precious."

[Spotted Horses]

Elvira Madigan on release was an early introduction to classical music for me and I was enamored w/ Wolfie's No. 21 - I have the Anda box inserted above; there are some 'used' sets on the Amazon MP for $30+ - can't remember what I paid a while back and have not checked other sellers - good luck.  Dave

I did come across the box offered used by Amazon MPs in the 30+ range, but ultimately decided to spring for the 17 CD set with all of Geza Anna's Deutsche Grammophon recordings, new for a bit over $60. Having all of the Bartok and Schumann would be worth the extra expense, especially since if I got the Mozart Box I would feel like an idiot buying the complete set later.

[Spotted Horses]

I recently got the complete "old" Zacharias recording (rec. ca. 1981-91 with different conductors and orchestras). I had got one half of this very cheaply at some earlier time, and eventually decided to get the whole lot.
...

I have them in a set that includes the piano sonatas. The piano sonata recordings are extraordinary. I have not gotten around to the concerti, and am undecided whether to start with his EMI recordings or later MDG set.

[Florestan]

The piano sonata recordings are extraordinary.

Currently my go to set, together with Pires (Denon) and Fazil Say.

[Spotted Horses]

Currently my go to set, together with Pires (Denon) and Fazil Say.

The two poles of my Mozart Piano Sonata universe are Zacharias and van Oort. There are other constellations, such as Schiff, Brautigam, etc.

[Mandryka]

I have them in a set that includes the piano sonatas. The piano sonata recordings are extraordinary. I have not gotten around to the concerti, and am undecided whether to start with his EMI recordings or later MDG set.

The MDG set is all conducted by the pianist using the same orchestra. The ones I've heard all seem to embody a very similar conception of Mozart's music, a very sunny conception. The EMI has a few different conductors and orchestras, and it also exemplifies a more daring soloist, daring to the point of being occasionally provocative. 

[Brian]

I just listened to some samples of both Zacharias cycles plus Anda, not being familiar with any of the three. Spent 15 minutes bouncing around between various movements. Mandryka's comments reflect that very limited experience - the MDG Zacharias sparkled in the sunny concertos, and was a little bit light-seeming in the D minor, while the EMI Zacharias had greater pianistic energy (and occasionally improvised bits outside cadenzas) but less orchestral detail. Inspired by Jo498, I checked the cadenzas of the D minor finale. In the MDG cycle, he has the live orchestra play the Don Giovanni chord that on EMI was inserted from another recording. 

[Atriod]

I just listened to some samples of both Zacharias cycles plus Anda, not being familiar with any of the three. Spent 15 minutes bouncing around between various movements. Mandryka's comments reflect that very limited experience - the MDG Zacharias sparkled in the sunny concertos, and was a little bit light-seeming in the D minor, while the EMI Zacharias had greater pianistic energy (and occasionally improvised bits outside cadenzas) but less orchestral detail. Inspired by Jo498, I checked the cadenzas of the D minor finale. In the MDG cycle, he has the live orchestra play the Don Giovanni chord that on EMI was inserted from another recording. 

What do you think of the Camerata Academica on Anda's cycle? It would be interesting to hear the take from fresh ears. It would be my sole cycle to keep if forced to keep one. But like @Jo498 's breakdown most of my top performances (agree with him on those Peter Serkin selections) come from outside cycles and often not with chamber orchestras.

edit: interestingly two pianists I don't like have made some of the best Mozart PC recordings I've heard- Brendel and Curzon. Brendel not from the Marriner cycle but the ones with Mackerras who provides a more interesting accompaniment than Marriner.

[vers la flamme]

I figured I should give Haebler a more fair trial, and listened to her recording of the 23rd Concerto, with Rowicki and the LSO (one of the handful that can be found on my streaming service). It was pleasant and skillfully performed, but didn't really expand my horizons, given that I have the sets by Brendel and others on modern piano with a similar ethos. Then, on a lark, I listened to one movement by Gaza Anda (the finale of Concerto #21). I had neglected this famous recording, probably because it has always appeared with reference to the film, Elvira Madigan, which was a turn-off for me.



But wow! Brilliant! Unfortunately it appears the full set is not streamed, so I have to think about whether I should look for the full cycle.

Definitely that's one of the best single discs of Mozart in my collection. I don't have the full set.

[Florestan]

The two poles of my Mozart Piano Sonata universe are Zacharias and van Oort. There are other constellations, such as Schiff, Brautigam, etc.

I think Mozart's piano sonatas have been well served on recordings. Two which have not been menționed yet that I enjoy are Reine Gianoli and Eric Heidsieck. From what I sampled, Vlado Perlemuter is also to my liking.

[Atriod]

I think Mozart's piano sonatas have been well served on recordings. Two which have not been menționed yet that I enjoy are Reine Gianoli and Eric Heidsieck. From what I sampled, Vlado Perlemuter is also to my liking.

Eric Heidsieck on EMI/Erato?

[Florestan]

Eric Heidsieck on EMI/Erato?

I think so, yes. Or is it EMI Japan? I will check tonight and let you know.

[Florestan]

I don't have the full set.

You should rectify the situation at once.

[Mandryka]

I think Mozart's piano sonatas have been well served on recordings.

I don't agree with this actually. I mean, obviously lots of pianists have played the notes in the right order, but I think it's real hard to turn the sonatas into something that sounds poetic, worthwhile. 

Eric Heidsieck.

Concerning his big survey of Mozart sonatas, which was I think made in Japan as you say, for me, the "embellishments" don't add anything, on the contrary - they subtract. Rubato, for example, which seems to me random, pointless.  All I get from what he does in these sonatas is the sense of a pianist messing around,  experimenting - and the experiments not really working for me.

He also recorded a Mozart disc in 1970 for Toshiba which I also can't handle.

By the way, I've kind of decided that at the moment there's really only one Mozart modern piano sonata pianist I kind of need, that's Leon McCawley.

[Atriod]

Honestly the popularity of the piano sonatas dumbfounds me, I place it at very low tier in the grand scheme of classical music and even among Mozart's output.

I don't agree with this actually. I mean, obviously lots of pianists have played the notes in the right order, but I think it's real hard to turn the sonatas into something that sounds poetic, worthwhile. 

Just sounds like a deficiency of the sonatas themselves not the performers.

[Florestan]

I don't agree with this actually. I mean, obviously lots of pianists have played the notes in the right order, but I think it's real hard to turn the sonatas into something that sounds poetic, worthwhile. 

Concerning his big survey of Mozart sonatas, which was I think made in Japan as you say, for me, the "embellishments" don't add anything, on the contrary - they subtract. Rubato, for example, which seems too me random, pointless.  All I get from what he does in these sonatas is the sense of a pianist messing around,  experimenting - and the experiments not really working for me.

He also recorded a Mozart disc in 1970 for Toshiba which I also can't handle.

By the way, I've kind of decided that at the moment there's really only one Mozart modern piano sonata pianist I kind of need, that's Leon McCawley.

Chacun à son goût, cher ami. 

[Florestan]

Honestly the popularity of the piano sonatas dumbfounds me, I place it at very low tier in the grand scheme of classical music and even among Mozart's output.

Just sounds like a deficiency of the sonatas themselves not the performers.

I disagree. Strongly.

[Mandryka]

Honestly the popularity of the piano sonatas dumbfounds me, I place it at very low tier in the grand scheme of classical music and even among Mozart's output.

Just sounds like a deficiency of the sonatas themselves not the performers.

Music's an odd thing. I'm in a good relation with Mozart's sonatas, they're always welcome in my house, but less so with Haydn's or Beethoven's. It's not a question of deficiencies or tiers or grand schemes or anything like that - it's a question of a person and a bit of music, a style,  clicking.

[Todd]

I think so, yes. Or is it EMI Japan? I will check tonight and let you know.

The complete cycle is on Victor. 

[Spotted Horses]

Honestly the popularity of the piano sonatas dumbfounds me, I place it at very low tier in the grand scheme of classical music and even among Mozart's output.

That was the received wisdom that I accepted until I listened to them recently (Zacharias). I haven't listened the recordings the Mandrake mentioned, but it strikes me that puffin up the sonatas into something more grand than they are risks losing the elegance in simplicity.

I recall that some of the very earliest recordings Ciccolini made were of Mozart sonatas. Maybe I'll check them out again.