Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ronald Brautigam :: Mozart: The Complete Piano Sonatas / Ronald Brautigam

Period Instrument performance with power

03/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These performances are probably not to all tastes. Speeds are often very aggressive and the piano sound percussive and exciting, not qualities often associated with Mozart. Still, there are moments of great beauty here and the playing never sacrifices expressiveness for the sake of virtuosity. Brautigam is even better in his excellent Haydn series, and many may find his generally brisk approach easier to accept with Haydn. This is my first choice for these pieces, and if you appreciate the pre-Beethovenian aspects of Mozart's style you will not be disappointed."

Brilliant period performances

05/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings have changed my opinion of Mozart's sonatas. Brautigam uses a copy of a 1795 fortepiano with spectacular results. The attack of this instrument is much more defined, which makes these pieces come alive. His tempos are fast, which adds to the energy and excitement of these performances. Recording quality is superb, and the price is a true value. I used to think Mozart's sonatas were sluggish and not of the same caliber of much of his other compositions (Haydn's sonatas seemed to sparkle in comparison). With this set, I have changed my mind... truly first class."

Magic

Rich | United Kingdom | 03/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was sick of hearing the feeble, watered down Mozart of the likes of Perahia and Uchida, and wow! along comes Brautigam and blows all that Dresden china into smithereens. Not to say his playing is lacking in poetry or finesee. Far from it. But the music lives and breaths under Brautigam's fingers in a way that makes Uchida et al sound turgid. At last! we can hear those wonderfully dynamic bass parts Mozart wrote for the left hand and instead of a muddy boom we get a sparkling interplay of musical line. I love the entire set!! Humour, wit, fire, impetuosity, grace, beauty, feeling - it's all here. I'm sure Mozart himself would've approved. THIS was the instrument Mozart composed for, a Walter fortepiano, and its response to the music is sheer delight.



Now we want to have Brautigam playing the concertos with Pinnock and the English Concert!!"