Mozart: Great Piano Concertos

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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...

M. Can EL