Search - Vladimir Ashkenazy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Istvan Kertesz :: Mozart: The Piano Concertos

Consistently delightful

Ray Hoole | U.K. | 06/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a superb set this is, with the charm and delicacy of Mozart's sublime inspirations exquisitely realised by Ashkenazy, who conducts the performances from the keyboard. If you associate Ashkenazy with the firework displays of Rachmaninov, Chopin and some of the Beethoven sonatas, you should not be put off here: his consummate musicianship is everywhere evident, from the somewhat conventional early works right through to the later masterpieces. Not only is it the soloist's playing which is a constant source of delight: the orchestra, too, excels with playing of great refinement, especially so in Mozart's marvellous woodwind writing in the later concertos.This really is a complete set, as not only do we get the two concert rondos, but also the double and triple piano concertos as well. In both of these Ashkenazy is joined by Barenboim, and, in the three-piano work, Fou Ts'ong. I found both performances intimate, enjoyable affairs, reminiscent, I believe, of what Mozart intended - without the 'slackness' identified in the original 'Penguin Stereo Record Guide' review, which also found 'both artists self-conscious'.The recordings are excellent, with about half of them being digital. The piano is faithfully reproduced and orchestral detail refreshingly present. My only regret is that in No.17 the piano is inexplicably set further back than in the other recordings, and so some nimble fingerwork on Ashkenazy's part is lost beneath the orchestral tuttis, the problem being at its worst in the first movement. This, of course, is a matter of taste, and the 'Penguin Guide' says of this concerto in particular that the 'balance between soloist and orchestra [is] finely judged'. Oh well, you can't please everyone. This, however, being my only complaint about this set, I can warmly recommend it to any prospective buyer."

Debate

janet_hamilton_seet | USA | 01/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The debate over which is the best Mozart piano concerto cycle normally revolves around the following: Barenboim, Ashkenazy, Perahia and Brendel.The Ashkenazy set is really the winner. Perahia's cycle is marred by questionable recording. The sound is not focused and there is a distortion which gets really annoying. Barenboim was too inexperienced when he made his cycle. Brendel? I would say he is more a Beethovenian than Mozartian. The real winner is Ashkenazy with the supreme technique and wherewithal to realize Mozart's genius. His technique allows him to play faster than his competitors. For instance, the final movement of No.21 is given the fastest and most thrilling rendition by Ashkenazy. As one reviewer pointed out below, the sound quality provided by Decca is also the best and most vivid. If you're a Mozart freak like me, you would just get all 4 cycles. Especially now that the cycles are available at this super cheap rate, I would very very highly recommend this Ashkenazy cycle."

A marriage made in heaven

Prescott Cunningham Moore | 12/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rarely do soloists and orchestras create such an amazing musical experience. Even more rare is that this experience is duplicated over two dozen times. Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra create what is truly one of the crowning achievements of audiophile history.



I have owned this set now for nearly half a decade and I am still surprised by Ashkenazy's level of musicianship. Not that I have ever doubted his skill, rather, I am still amazed that this master of Rachmaninoff and the romantics approaches these pieces so perfectly. Ashkenazy plays these concertos as they should be played. His typical sense of drama is somewhat subdued, replaced with a sublime sense of delicacy and classical phrasing. He brings out the beautiful chromaticism, the magical melodies, and the pure beauty of Mozart effortlessly.



What is even more wonderful is that the orchestral accompaniment is top notch. Although these are not period performances, the Philharmonia plays with a classical grace and level of perfection that push these performances over the top. The orchestra's sound is full, accompanying Ashkenazy's "full" sound quite well. As mentioned above, Ashkenazy (who conducts these performances from the piano) instills in the orchestra the perfect balance of classical grace and dramatic flair.



Finally, the recorded sound is flawless. This set is so appealing to me because Ashkenazy approaches these performances in an organized, coherent fashion. Unlike his set of the Beethoven concertos (where Ashkenazy's technique, phrasing, and ultimate interpretation is dramatically different in each concerto), Ashkenazy maintains a sense of classical style throughout the cycle. And not only are the interpretations so consistent, but the sound is as well. It almost seems as if all the concertos were recorded in one session.



Moments like this are rare in music. There are certainly individual performances of the concertos that may be more appealing here or there, but all in all Ashkenazy's cycle delivers the most consistently fresh, powerful, and beautiful interpretations. For those that are not sure they want to invest so much for this set, look into Decca's CD of the "Big Six" concertos (20-25) on two CDs. But you would be missing out. Ashkenazy does not "run through" the earlier concertos but actually plays them all as if they were all equally masterful. I highly recommend this set. It is a wonderful musical investment."