Search - Mozart, Landowska :: Piano Concertos 13 & 22

You have to learn how to listen

Mark McCue | Denver, CO USA | 07/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The problem the previous reviewer has with this issue is one of convenience. There's an art to listening to the old stuff. If he's a real Landowska admirer he wouldn't be complaining because the lady didn't leave us but a smidgen that's truly modern, anyway. He should be good at this.The important thing to listen for here is Landowska's unfailing understanding of the composer as an artist breaking new ground. Landowksa was one to follow her own advice: she wrote that Mozart was never, ever prissy, and she demonstrates that here. We get all the pulsing bass line, the right hand harmonics, the big handfuls of chords which were already looking toward Clementi and Beethoven. This IS Landowska at her best.Yes, the sound is primitive, but it's a great sight better than sitting around with 78s or acetate transcriptions. But if you shut up and listen to the lady play, you soon get used to it, and you find yourself absorbed. I don't know of any greater tribute to an artist or a recording.Thanks to the producers for resurrecting this--it takes some courage to spend the money and time to do it because you know you're going to get some bellyaching fromt he facile listener. It's not perfect but it surely deserves four good big gold stars."