Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Walter Klien :: Mozart: Piano Sonatas Vol 2 / Walter Klien

The Best Bargain in Mozart on Disc!

01/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are a number of sets of the Mozart sonatas which are so fine as to be considered "classics" in their own right; Uchida's lovely version on Philips being one that springs to mind; there are a few others of equal stature. But none surpasses and very few ever come near to equalling this exquisite set. Walter Klien is not as well known as Brendel or Kovacevich or their peers but his realization of Mozart's sonatas is, in a word, perfection. And this second volume is every bit the equal of the first. From the haunting loveliness and uncluttered simplicity of the Andante grazioso of the A Major Sonata, K. 331, to its justly famous (and really fun!) "Alla Turca" rondo finale, and all the other wonderful pieces that follow, listening to this recording is a blissful and humanizing experience-- it's music that sinks deep into one's soul, that feeds it, and which becomes only more wonderful with repeated listening. Klien's playing is flawless: perfectly modulated, embracing sentiment without a trace of sentimentality, able to be pretty without preciosity; and the Vox recording is splendid, the piano tone rich, with perfect balance between deep bass and bright, clean treble. And the piece-de-resistance is that it comes at the very lowest price: you can buy both volumes for less than a single volume of the other sets and get what is arguably the finest recording in the bargain -- with change left over! An essential part of every music lover's collection, and one that will bring hours of unalloyed fulfilment. The Penguin Guide awarded the Klien set a Rosette (its "academy award") and I heartily agree!"

Exemplary Rendition at a Bargain Price!

Dingbats | U.S.A. | 11/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Walter Klien is a superb interpreter of Mozart's piano music. His is a style that exemplifies the best of the Viennese school pianism: no extremes in dynamics, fluid phrasing, every note polished to a beautiful sheen. Klien is not the only exponent of this school, of course; Ingrid Haebler, Lili Kraus and Christoph Eschenbach are also notable holders of this tradition. But Klien's set is probably the most competitively priced of them all, and is a fine introduction for anyone wishing to become acquainted with this music.



This volume also contains some of Mozart's most famous piano music: the incredible outpouring of creativity in the 3 Sonatas from K 331 to K 333 (i.e. the well-known Turkish March of K. 331, and the extended virtuosic Rondos in both K. 332 and K. 333); the weighty Fantasia and Sonata in C Minor; the fine contrapuntal writings in the late masterpiece K. 576; and the ubiquitous C Major "Easy" Sonata, K. 545. You won't go wrong with this set."

Perfection

Laurence D. Furr | San Diego, CA United States | 10/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have never understood the hoopla about Uchida's playing. For my ears her Mozart is too heavy. This set by Klien has been my favoirte recording of the Mozart Piano Sonatas for a long time. I also have the set recorded by Lili Kraus which is interesting to the point of being bizarre in some of the pieces but I like it none-the-less. Her live playing was also extremely heavy. But back to Klien...this set is a shining jewel and you will not find a lower price."