The first thing that struck me about this recording is the excellence of the sound, something for which we may thank the artistic director, Tim Handley. Perhaps I should say that this is a matter of personal taste and it is possible that other listeners might find just a trace more reverberation than they like, but to my ears it is just pleasantly warm, with a well-balanced piano that sounds first rate and in top condition. The playing is rather similar, and indeed the first word that comes to mind to describe it is genial. Jean-Bernard Pommier is unhurried in the initial Allegro of K488, which comes first on the disc deeply thoughtful in its central Adagio with its introspective mood (accentuated by the key of F sharp minor, unique in Mozart), and cheerfully vivacious in the final rondo.
Pommier and his excellent Polish orchestra have equally the measure of the C major Concerto, K467; this is thoroughly likable playing. If one must have reservations, perhaps it should be said that there is little of the daemonic in this Mozart and it could be too mild or bland for some tastes. Otherwise I have only praise, though the booklet note translated from French that talks of ''unrealized desires and perpetual restlessness'' and ''the Mozartian 'I' … confronted by the reality of his own scission'' doesn't illuminate the music much.
Of the alternative versions, that of Rudolf Serkin and Claudio Abbado on DG must with regret be set aside. The great pianist was no longer at his best when this was recorded in the early 1980s, and there are sluggish tempos and awkward piano passagework, as well as some humming. The major competition comes from Murray Perahia on CBS. He doesn't offer this coupling, but his performances of both concertos, otherwise coupled, on separate discs, go deeper into the music than Pommier's; if in doubt about this, sample them anywhere to find a wider range of tone-colour and an ability to characterize the music more fully although, paradoxically, this is done often with what seems like a quiet reticence. But even if the good Virgin disc is overshadowed by superlative CBS performances, buy it with confidence if you want this coupling.'