Search - Clifford Curzon, Schubert, Mozart :: Great Pianists 22

A Servant of the Music

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 05/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Clifford Curzon (1907-1982) was his own worst critic. Indeed he had problems letting the record companies release his recordings because he would fret about whether they were good enough. They were, of course. He made some of the most beautiful recordings of Schubert, Brahms and especially Mozart of any pianist. These Schubert recordings - the Impromptus, D. 899 & 935, have rarely been equaled for poise and drama. The 'Wanderer' Fantasy was a particular favorite of his - he played it at his London début and was still playing it fifty-plus years later - and this is one of several recordings he made. Each has it rewards; in this one, particularly, the return to C major towards the end is like the heavens opening up. One holds one's breath at its glory. But the real treasures here are the two Mozart concerti - No. 26, the 'Coronation,' and No. 27 in B flat. The key to his performance of the 'Coronation' is that he is totally unhurried; this concerto, whose mood is one of jubilation, is often played too fast. The mood here is unfettered joy, not frenzied excitement. One plus is that he uses the first movement cadenza by Wanda Landowska (with whom he studied) with its sly quotes from 'The Marriage of Figaro.'This recording of the Concerto No. 27 may suffer slightly by being compared to the one he made with Benjamin Britten conducting; THAT one is one of the great concerto recordings of all time (and it's available at Amazon[.com], too, along with the equally superb d minor concerto). But this one, with István Kertész (an underrated conductor whose too-early death by drowning robbed us all) has its own felicities. The difference between the two versions, I feel, is that in the Britten recording the Romantic movement is foreshadowed; the thrust is more dramatic, has wider amplitude. The performance on this CD is more classical. Scott Morrison"

Curzon the best when it comes to Mozart!

J Scott Morrison | 12/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With the great chamber musician that he is, Curzon's piano playing is flawless with expressive warmth and virtuoso technique.Indeed a Mozart specialist. His Schubert is just as good and meditative. Kertesz and the London Symphony provide solid backing and the recording is wonderfully playful."