Pires: Mozart – The Piano Sonatas (6 CD box set, FLAC)

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Maria Joâo Pires
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 1.32 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
01. Piano Sonata No.1 In C, K.279 – 1. Allegro
02. Piano Sonata No.1 In C, K.279 – 2. Andante
03. Piano Sonata No.1 In C, K.279 – 3. Allegro
04. Piano Sonata No.2 In F, K.280 – 1. Allegro assai
05. Piano Sonata No.2 In F, K.280 – 2. Adagio
06. Piano Sonata No.2 In F, K.280 – 3. Presto
07. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Flat, K.281 – 1. Allegro
08. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Flat, K.281 – 2. Andante amoroso
09. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Flat, K.281 – 3. Rondeau (Allegro)

CD 02
01. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, K.282 – 1. Adagio
02. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, K.282 – 2. Menuetto I-II
03. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, K.282 – 3. Allegro
04. Piano Sonata No.5 In G, K.283 – 1. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata No.5 In G, K.283 – 2. Andante
06. Piano Sonata No.5 In G, K.283 – 3. Presto
07. Piano Sonata No.6 In D, K.284 “Dürnitz” – 1. Allegro
08. Piano Sonata No.6 In D, K.284 “Dürnitz” – 2. Rondeau en Polonaise (Andante)
09. Piano Sonata No.6 In D, K.284 “Dürnitz” – 3. Tema con variazione

CD 03
01. Piano Sonata No.7 In C, K.309 – 1. Allegro con spirito
02. Piano Sonata No.7 In C, K.309 – 2. Andante, un poco adagio
03. Piano Sonata No.7 In C, K.309 – 3. Rondeau (Allegretto grazioso)
04. Piano Sonata No.9 In D, K.311 – 1. Allegro con spirito
05. Piano Sonata No.9 In D, K.311 – 2. Andantino con espressione
06. Piano Sonata No.9 In D, K.311 – 3. Rondeau (Allegro)
07. Piano Sonata No.8 In A Minor, K.310 – 1. Allegro maestoso
08. Piano Sonata No.8 In A Minor, K.310 – 2. Andante cantabile con espressione
09. Piano Sonata No.8 In A Minor, K.310 – 3. Presto

CD 04
01. Piano Sonata No.10 In C Major, K.330 – 1. Allegro moderato
02. Piano Sonata No.10 In C Major, K.330 – 2. Andante cantabile
03. Piano Sonata No.10 In C Major, K.330 – 3. Allegretto
04. Piano Sonata No.11 In A, K.331 -“Alla Turca” – 1. Tema (Andante grazioso) con variazioni
05. Piano Sonata No.11 In A, K.331 -“Alla Turca” – 2. Menuetto
06. Piano Sonata No.11 In A, K.331 -“Alla Turca” – 3. Alla Turca (Allegretto)
07. Piano Sonata No.12 In F, K.332 – 1. Allegro
08. Piano Sonata No.12 In F, K.332 – 2. Adagio
09. Piano Sonata No.12 In F, K.332 – 3. Allegro assai

CD 05
01. Piano Sonata No.13 In B Flat, K.333 – 1. Allegro
02. Piano Sonata No.13 In B Flat, K.333 – 2. Andante cantabile
03. Piano Sonata No.13 In B Flat, K.333 – 3. Allegretto grazioso
04. Fantasia In C Minor, K.475
05. Piano Sonata No.14 In C Minor, K.457 – 1. Molto allegro
06. Piano Sonata No.14 In C mMnor, K.457 – 2. Adagio
07. Piano Sonata No.14 In C Minor, K.457 – 3. Allegro assai

CD 06
01. Piano Sonata “No.18” In F, K.533/K.494 – 1. Allegro, K.533
02. Piano Sonata “No.18” In F, K.533/K.494 – 2. Andante, K.533
03. Piano Sonata “No.18” In F, K.533/K.494 – 3. Rondo (Allegretto), K.494
04. Piano Sonata No.15 In C, K.545 “Facile” – 1. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata No.15 In C, K.545 “Facile” – 2. Andante
06. Piano Sonata No.15 In C, K.545 “Facile” – 3. Rondo (Allegretto)
07. Piano Sonata No.16 In B Flat, K.570 – 1. Allegro
08. Piano Sonata No.16 In B Flat, K.570 – 2. Adagio
09. Piano Sonata No.16 In B Flat, K.570 – 3. Allegretto
10. Piano Sonata No.17 In D, K.576 – 1. Allegro
11. Piano Sonata No.17 In D, K.576 – 2. Adagio
12. Piano Sonata No.17 In D, K.576 – 3. Allegretto

Maria Joao Pires – an exquisite mozartean sonata traversal

Today great Portuguese pianist Maria Joao Pires turns 70. Recognized as one of the finest musicians of our time, she has developed a top-notch career of performances before the audiences worldwide and on discs as well. The finesse in interpreting Mozart, Schubert or Chopin earned her a constantly growing reputation among the stars of the piano.

These recordings date back to late `80s (Hamburg) and early `90s (Lisbon) and they testify for a special craftsmanship on the pianist’s part. Maria Joao Pires traverses here the whole output by Mozart in the genre of the keyboard sonata. The sonatas (and Fantasia K 475) are assembled in 6 CDs following the chronological criterion.

I think this 6-CD box set devoted by Maria Joao Pires to her beloved Mozart represents a quintessential memento in a wonderful performing career and at the same time a deep reverence to an undisputed genius for whom the performer feels a keen empathy. And very important: for whom she has the most proper means – both in musical and technical terms – to utterly convey his feelings and thoughts.

Wow!!

I don’t have another recording of these pieces to compare this to and, actually, I don’t feel the lack. These are wonderfully expressive interpretations of Mozart’s music. There was one passage where the playing actually made me chuckle! Other pieces that had a more serious, darker sound were played with strong, serious feeling. Highly recommended!