Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21
Product Details
Editorial Reviews
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
Good performance with some minor flaws.
This performance of Mozart's two masterpiece piano concertos are fairly good, especially in the no. 21. But there are some reservations in the 20th that keeps mee giving this CD a higher rating.
The main thing that brings this CD rating down a bit is the recording. While it is uniformaly decent, in general I felt the piano was a bit overwhelmed by the orchestra. I'm not sure if its the actual recording or just Mitsuko Uchida's interpretation but this is a piano concerto and for my taste the piano should be center stage.
In the 20th concerto, her playing is a bit passive for me and this is where she gets overwhelmed by the orchestra. It almost sounds like she is afraid of making this piece sound too romantic so she holds back. And while her technique is flawless, I find it odd at times where she chooses
to use the sustain pedal, most notably at 3:25 and at 8:40 where she plays the broken octave scales with her left hand. While this is certainly a way to play it, it sounds a bit sloppy and it does seem to fit the way she plays the rest of the movement. The same problems occur in the second movement, notably at around 4:50 the winds, especially the flutes seem to be overwhelming the piano. The final movement is done fairly well and as I am not too familiar with it, I had no problems, except some orchestral imbalances (strings vs. winds and horns)
I throughly enjoyed her playing of the 21st concerto, all three movements from start to finish. She seems to have lost any of her reservations she had playing the 20th. Her technique is, again, flawless and her playing in general is well balanced. The balance between piano and orchestra seems much better. Her cadenza in the first movement is also entertaining and well played. The Enlgish Chamber Orchestra is pretty much perfect here and Jeffery Tate does a wonderful job with the conducting.
I realize I was a bit nit-picky with reviewing her playing the 20h. It is a masterpiece, after all, but while it isn't bad I just don't think its the best. But if you get this CD just for the 21st Concerto, I think it is well worth it.
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21
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!
Mozart was one of a kind! Truly beautiful piano work.
JM
Related Links : Product by Amazon or shopping-lifestyle-20 Store
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น