Search - Mozart, Beethoven, Levin :: Quintets for Fortepiano & Wind Instruments

Be aware that these are period instruments

02/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whoever had such a problem with balance probably wasn't aware that this recording was made with some of the foremost experts of period practice on their respective instruments- Robert Levin has made a name for himself playing classical masterpieces on restored fortepianos (and improvising his own cadenzas!), and each of the wind soloists has appeared and recorded the Mozart wind concertos on authentic instruments with Hogwood and the AAM. As such, this recording is different from typical recordings- naturally the balance will be different because these are different instrumtents- the bassoon and the horn were much more powerful before than they are today, and the piano has undergone the opposite tranformation. Beyond the different sound of the instruments, however, the musical approach is also quite different- there is a clear effort to attempt to recreate period practices; a pedantic fidelity to the score is abandoned in favor of the spontaneous reading, complete with numerous embellishments and ornaments, that were more typical of the style. This style of playing and the different sound (esp in the fortepiano) may not be favored by some, but for those interested in how this music may have sounded in Mozart's own day, such a recording offers valuable insight and suggestions."