Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maria-João Pires :: Mozart: The Piano Sonatas [Box Set]

Dream set

M. Gurhan Kulle | Istanbul, Sisli, Turkey | 03/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Words will fail to describe the true beauty of this collection. This compilation of sonatas have become such dear to me that they are among the mostly played cds in my collection. The most characteristic feature of these Mozart recordings are her enthusiastic lyricism she succeeds in delivering. You will find a lot of depth and colours in her interpretation. Digital recordings are from 1989 and 1990 and sonics are also very good in this DG set. Especially if you have tube amplification the awards will even be more reflecting the pure tone played throughout. No doubt that there are some other very good Mozart Sonata sets around but this one will steal all hearts from the very first hearing. For such an invaluable set the price justifies every penny of it. The booklet contains info about the sonatas but there is no comment by the performer reflecting her outlook on the sonatas but maybe that is because she has told these through her piano anyway. Ms. Pires is such an excellent player that she deserves her standing as an artist on these recordings alone."

The Greatest Modern Readings of These Works

Matt Matthews | Seattle, WA USA | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pires' performance of the Mozart sonatas are the most consistently rewarding I have ever heard. The perfectly elegant finger-work of early Lili Kraus, the joy of the (badly recorded) Gieseking set, much more oomph than Schiff, and much more warmth than Ushida, musicianship of the highest order, an emotional sensitivity to every nuance of this extrmely subtle music, purity of tone unmasked by overpedaling, rhythmic flexibility and push of a kind that enable one to listen over and over again with, if anything, an increase of pleasure--in my case, "increase of appetite hath grown by what it fed on." A set that every lover of these sonatas will treasure."

Empathy

Orpheus | on the road | 04/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maria Joao Pires is one the world's most influential and admired Pianists, her interpretations of Mozart, Chopin, Schumann and Beethoven have been lauded and her concerts are sold out within days. Throughout her career though, she returns again and again to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.



Mozart Sonatas lack the pathos and gravity of Beethoven's, but reveal a beauty more etheric and elusive. It is not for nothing that most pianists do not dare to touch them, as they represent a world that seems simple and one-dimensional, but is in fact the complete opposite. Mozart' inclination to simplicity reveals, when played by someone with a kindred soul, his Incomparable Genius. Maria Joao Pires does just that.



Her tone is a delicate and lyrical one: warm, soulful, clear and adept to Mozart's subtle and intricate compositions. What I most like about her is her sense of timing and flowing momentum that expresses the essence of a Mozartean Sonata.



You could say this is the most rounded and soulful collection of Mozart's sonatas . But that would not give enough credit to Maria Joao Pires Artistry. Each and every piece is played with an almost unassuming elegance and clarity; no manierisms, ideosyncracies, just a springing forth of the Music.



She creates an atmosphere of delicate intimacy and tranclucent beauty, I have never heared before. She expresses it all: the elegance and lyricism of Mozart love for Opera, his ability to summon a sense of heartbreaking joy and splendour, longing and humour, deep agony and elusive freedom...the whole gamut of the highest of human sentiments and capabilities.



Of course there are other great boxes such as Brendel, Uchida, De La Rocha, Gould. But Pires' unique empathic sensitivity capture something which surpasses just a great performance but touches the heart of Mozart's music.



This is the older box version, there is a more recent one which is considerably cheaper."