Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jenö Jandó, Zsuzsa Kollár :: Mozart: Piano Duets, Volume 1

Jenö Jandó, who must have made 100 CDs for Naxos so far, still manages to sound engaged in what he plays. In this, his second duet recital with his former pupil Zsuzsa Kollár, the artists give completely convincing performances in a much-neglected area of Mozart's music. The piano duet was a dominant form of home musical entertainment in the days before the radio and the phonograph. But the intimate nature of most duet music doesn't make for spectacular public recitals, so most of the music is rarely heard today. If you love Mozart, though, be prepared for some pleasant surprises. K. 521 is a mature masterpiece on the level of Mozart's best music, and most of the other works are close to its level. The exception is K. 19d, composed when Mozart was 9 years old, but even that has enough ingenuity and impulse to make it worth hearing, especially the dramatic interruption of the concluding Rondo, an amazing touch for a composer so young, even when it's Mozart. The performances are excellent. These musicians don't exactly play as one, although their ensemble work is flawless. There is just enough difference in their personalities to make for a convincing duet experience. Beautiful music, performances, and recorded sound at a ridiculously low price. --Leslie Gerber