Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Matyas Antal, Concentus Hungaricus :: Mozart: Complete Piano Concertos, Vol. 8

Wonderful Performances: A Genuine Bargain

JohnL | Alexander, NC United States | 07/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Naxos has once again provided a splendid disc of THREE Mozart Piano Concertos. No.19 in F Major K.459 is truly a sunny, delightful work, and Jeno Jando plays it attractively. Each movement in nicely paced, with fine support from the Concentus Hungaricus, particularly from the woodwinds, which Mozart is now using more prominantly (from Concerto No.15 K.450 on...) Also, Naxos provides two more delightful earlier Concertos, No.6 K.238 and No.8 K.246. Both of these are very pleasing as well. If you are collecting all of Mozart's 27 Piano Concertos, which ANY lover of his music should, this is an excellent way to get 3 quality ones on a single CD. In his book "Classical Music", author Phil G. Goulding states that "...in the field of piano concertos, for sheer listening pleasure, Mozart is incomparable. It is not permitted to refuse yourself the joy of Mozart piano concertos before leaving this earthly realm." I agree 100 percent! Don't deny yourself the joy of this Naxos (digital) recording."

Impeccable

Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 01/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in June and October 1990, this eighth volume in the Naxos series with all of Mozart?s Piano Concertos continues in the same vein as the previous discs: soloist Jenö Jandó was obviously enjoying himself immensely, as one can hear from his light-hearted humming along that occasionally obtrudes itself on the otherwise impeccable recording. The chamber orchestra Concentus Hungaricus, here once again directed by Mátyás Antal, is an equal partner in the proceedings, offering some delightful string and woodwind playing and being treated well by the engineers, which is not always the case on Naxos? other early recordings. Of course, it is Concerto No. 19, the first of the ?Coronation? concertos, which provides the main ?meat? on this recording, Mozart excelling himself both in lightness of touch and the art of dialogue (between soloist and orchestra). Concertos No. 6 and 8, from an earlier period in Mozart?s short life, are both delightful in their way, but of decidedly less weight than No. 19, which, in this performance, is nearly ten minutes longer than either of the other two. ? Again I would stress that my five-star evaluation does not imply that it would be impossible to outdo this recording; it just means that I think that under the circumstances and for the price demanded this is an excellent, value-for-money CD."