"A fantastic pianist and the world's greatest composer - Ingrid Haebler plays Mozart the way he should be played. (A great pianist is not necessarily a great Mozartian - Horowitz, with a few exceptions, did not really understand Mozart, and Gould's playing of Mozart's sonatas is simply too hideous to describe.) You won't be disappointed with this one, even if it's a bit hard to find. (As a note, Haebler re-recorded the sonatas for the Denon label (a Japanese company) in the late 80s and early 90s, and that set is also superb.)"
Enchanting
Dean E. Robertson | Wooster, OH USA | 09/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not an expert on classical music, but I adore Mozart, particularly the small piano pieces. Ingrid Haebler is the only musician who's cared enough to record the whole catalog. Ingrid doesn't have the flash of a Daniel Berenboim, or the brilliance of an Artur Rubinstein, but she's an accomplished musician nonetheless. When Philips came out with their "Greatest Pianists of the Twentieth Century" collection, Ingrid was one of the featured artists. One of Mozart's complaints was that musicians didn't play his music the way he'd written it. Ingrid does that. I imagine her as a student sitting under the watchful eye of the master, and rendering each piece as he demands. And she succeeds admirably. When I come home from a hard day at work, I instinctively grab one of the Ingrid Haebler pieces and pop it into the CD player. I never tire of listening to them. The piano was Mozart's favorite instrument. If you haven't heard these 100+ pieces, you're in for a special treat."
Wonderful
J. Hall | USA | 12/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm no expert. But these recordings are beautiful to me. I have no complaint at all."
GORGEOUS, LYRICAL MUSICANSHIP
G. Engler | The Frigid Northeast | 09/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Direct comparisons between Haebler and Uchida reveal that Haebler possessed a gentler, lyrical style. Whereas Uchida pointedly punctuates every accent, Haebler's long lyrical lines reveal more of Mozart's beauty. The differences are obvious from the get-go. Whereas Uchida blazes through the Sonata #1 in C (sounding oh so modern) Haebler allows the music to breath. In so doing, Mozart's musical lines flourish.
The sound of this set is very natural, and the recording dates are obvious only in direct comparison with Uchida's closely miked digital recordings. Haebler's Stienway (?) too, has a gentler tone, more appropriate I think to Mozart than the modern, closely miked Steinway that Uchida plays.
The notes, in the style of 90s boxes are multi-lingual and extensive. A pleasure to read.
Personally, I'm glad that I own both complete sets of Sonatas. (Haebler's set, of course, is far more inclusive. But you're probably considering this for the Sonatas) but if I had to choose one for the desert island......
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1