Search - Mozart, Horszowski :: Complete Piano Sonata 2

Rediscover the Mozart Sonatas

Stephen Papastephanou | Maryland, United States | 06/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are many versions of the Complete Mozart Sonatas for piano, most of which are excellent. So intense is the rhythmic element in Mozart that few pianists can escape the style and rhythm, that has become the "standard" in the interpretation of Mozart's music. Thus while many pianists play Mozart "very well" they often sound the same with different levels of digital perfection. One may have difficulty distinguishing one version from another. Thus the so called "Mozart style" while beautiful in it's perfect simplicity has become the "standard" for Mozart performances. Often unfortunately it has only two dimensions. A pianist that managed to overcome the expected "Mozart style" and expand both in rhythm as well as in depth, thus giving three dimensional interpretations is Mieczyslaw Horszowski.In these recordings of the Complete Sonatas, Horszowski manages to escape the standard and customary "Mozart Style" and plays Mozart in three dimensions, bringing out more depth, voices, and lyric passages unexplored by most other pianists. In addition to a very extensive dynamic range, his playing is precious, fluid, delicate and romantic, a legacy from the unique Lechetizky school of pianists. The aroma of Debussy, and the impressionists is also evoked in these performances, merged with the uniqueness of Mozart. Listening to these Sonatas makes one discover them for the first time. The fact that these recordings are derived from live performances, makes them even more exciting and the few occasional mistakes are forgiven, in light of such great piano playing. While an occasional hiss is inevitable, most of the recordings are excellent. A complete list of the pianist's very extensive repertoire, as well as interesting photos are included in the rich liner notes. These recordings should be extremely interesting to classical music lovers, wanting to discover a fresh approach to the sonatas, and also to concert pianists and teachers who will discover new exciting ways of performing these masterpieces of the classical piano repertoire. Another winner from Arbiter."

Collector treasures !

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 01/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are different categories of music ; atonal , classic , romantic and baroque , but How can you define Mozart's music in this classification ?



Mozart is an universe unto himself , due each work of his fertile mind is individual . His creative works and monumental legacy is far from any other composer previous or next .



In the case of Horszowski playing you can feel from the first bar his immense concern to afford us the essential spirit of W.A.M.



He does not use the sostenuto pedal . The result obviously translates into a major continuity in the musical flow instead of the recreation of reflexive atmosphere , because somehow this device would tinge his music of romantic taciturnity .



I have not heard in my whole life such expressive and astonishingly well played Fantasie in C minor .



If you really want to display an admirable rapture experience , come to Horszowski playing and acquire this sublime album .









"

Great Heritage Well Preserved

BLee | HK | 03/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I entirely agree with the previous review made some 4 years ago. What's more, here we have different character for each of Mozart's sonata, where the spirit of Mozart's music is well captured, especially the fluidity -- among other things, the left hand is never thunderous, as the instrument then was but not at all at the expense of giving us the impression that Mozart is essentially an opera writer...



But as far as the recording is concerned, it's almost as good as his WTC, and is certainly good enough to delight any music lover enormously. On the whole, it's a great tradition well preserved and it's a shame that people should ever overlook this great heritage."