Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 27

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Label: Decca

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 65

Mastering:

ADD

Catalogue Number: 417 288-2DH

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 20 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer
Benjamin Britten, Conductor
Clifford Curzon, Piano
English Chamber Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 27 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer
Benjamin Britten, Conductor
Clifford Curzon, Piano
English Chamber Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer
These 1970 performances are today in competition with many fine subsequent accounts of Mozart concertos, if not in this particular coupling, and they certainly hold their place as interpretations. The approach to the D minor Concerto is very Sturm und Drang, and at times I found this aspect, essential though it is, a little overdone, for example in the pace of the Romanze's middle section and the rather strenuous finale. Otherwise, I enjoyed this sensitive playing, though not the over-romanticized cadenzas—nor the bassy and boomy sound that sent me to the tone controls after a while and certainly does not conform to Britten's preference for a 'slender sound' in Mozart. Even in the more serene last Concerto, K595, the musical approach is perhaps (save for the finale) rather solemn. For example, surely the opening theme of the Larghetto could be simpler: here it seems slow and portentous. I noted too a brief loss of accuracy and ensemble at the 7'18'' mark in the first movement here. Still, the catalogue is enriched by these performances.'

Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music. 

Stream on Presto Music | Buy from Presto Music

Gramophone Print

  • Print Edition

From £6.67 / month

Subscribe

Gramophone Digital Club

  • Digital Edition
  • Digital Archive
  • Reviews Database
  • Full website access

From £8.75 / month

Subscribe

                              

If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.