Perahia: Mozart – The Complete Piano Concertos (12 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Murray Perahia, Radu Lupu
Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Murray Perahia
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 12 Cd box set
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Sony
Size: 2.76 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

CD 01
Konzert Nr. 1 F-Dur, KV 37
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
Recorded: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, England, 18-19.02.1984.

Konzert Nr. 2 B-Dur, KV 39
I. Allegro spiritoso
II. Andante
III. Allegro molto
Recorded: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, England, 18-19.02.1984.

Konzert Nr. 3 D-Dur, KV 40
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante
III. Presto
Recorded: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, England, 18-19.02.1984.

Konzert Nr. 4 G-Dur, KV 41
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro molto
Recorded: Rosslyn Hill Chapel, Hampstead, London, England, 18-19.02.1984.

CD 02
Konzert Nr. 5 D-Dur, KV 175
I. Allegro
II. Andante ma un poco adagio
III. Allegro
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 26-27.06.1981.

Konzert Nr. 6 B-Dur, KV 238
I. Allegro aperto
II. Andante un poco adagio
III. Rondeau: Allegro
Recorded: Abbey Road Studio One, London, England, 26.09.1979.

Konzert Nr. 7 F-Dur «Lodron-Konzert» (für 2 bzw. 3 Klaviere), KV 242
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Rondeau: Tempo di Menuetto
Recorded: Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, Suffolk, England, 23-24.06.1988.

CD 03
Konzert Nr. 8 C-Dur «Lützow-Konzert», KV 246
I. Allegro aperto
II. Andante
III. Rondeau: Tempo di Menuetto
Recorded: Henry Wood Hall, London, England, 04.1979.

Konzert Nr. 9 Es-Dur «Jeunehomme-Konzert», KV 271
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Rondeau: Presto
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 20-22.09.1976.

Konzert Nr. 10 Es-Dur (für 2 Klaviere), KV 365
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Rondeau: Allegro
Recorded: Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, Suffolk, England, 23-24.06.1988.

CD 04
Konzert Nr. 11 F-Dur, KV 413
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Tempo di Menuetto
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 02-06.1977.

Konzert Nr. 12 A-Dur, KV 414
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Rondeau: Allegretto
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 16-17.06.1979.

CD 05
Konzert Nr. 13 C-Dur, KV 415
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Rondeau: Allegro
Recorded: Abbey Road Studio One, London, England, 4-5.04.1979.

Konzert Nr. 14 Es-Dur, KV 449
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andantino
III. Allegro ma non troppo
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 12-13.09.1975.

CD 06
Konzert Nr. 15 B-Dur, KV 450
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 10-11.10.1982.

Konzert Nr. 16 D-Dur, KV 451
I. Allegro assai
II. Andante
III. Rondeau: Allegro di molto
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 10-11.10.1982.

CD 07
Konzert Nr. 17 G-Dur, KV 453
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegretto
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 24-26.04.1980.

Konzert Nr. 18 B-Dur, KV 456
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andante un poco sostenuto
III. Allegro vivace
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 24-26.04.1980.

CD 08
Konzert Nr. 19 F-Dur, KV 459
I. Allegro
II. Allegretto
III. Allegro assai
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 21.09.1981.

Konzert Nr. 20 d-moll, KV 466
I. Allegro
II. Romance
III. Allegro assai
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 02-06.1977.

CD 09
Konzert Nr. 21 C-Dur, KV 467
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante
III. Allegro vivace assai
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 20-22.09.1976.

Konzert Nr. 22 Es-Dur, KV 482
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro
Recorded: Henry Wood Hall, London, England, 09.1979.

CD 10
Konzert Nr. 23 A-Dur, KV 488
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro assai
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 26.02.1984.

Konzert Nr. 24 c-moll, KV 491
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegretto
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 12-13.09.1975.

CD 11
Konzert Nr. 25 C-Dur, KV 503
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante
III. Allegretto
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 26-27.06.1981.

Konzert Nr. 26 D-Dur «Krönungskonzert», KV 537
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegretto
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 21-24.09.1983.

CD 12
Konzert Nr. 27 B-Dur, KV 595
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegro
Recorded: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England, 06-09.1979.

Rondo D-Dur, KV 382 (Alternative zum III. Satz von KV 175)
Allegretto grazioso
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 6.10.1983.

Rondo A-Dur, KV 386 (Alternative zum III. Satz von KV 414)
Allegretto
Recorded: St. John’s Church, Smith Square, London, England, 6.10.1983.

A classic set

In the world of classical music, Mozart’s 27 piano concertos stand among the greatest pinnacle works for the genre. Among the legenday recordings, Murray Perahia’s are considered by many professionals and amatuers alike to be among the finest readings. Sets like this are a superb investment for a lifetime of enjoyment and marvel.

While most are familiar with the “Great Piano Concertos” that Mozart largely wrote towards the end of his Vienna heydays, I was surprised at how delectable the early concertos were even though they are less complex compositions than the later masterpieces.

Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra bring out the galante charm of these pieces. In the famous c-minor and d-minor works, there are certainly more “ominous and thundering” recordings – Malcom Bilson and the English Baroque Solists come to mind – but Perahia and the ECO bring a consistent lithe and fluid progression to each piece. It is magnificant music on all levels.

The sound quality is quite good with the piano sounding exceptionally sparkling and pefectly balanced. The orchestra was recorded a bit on the restrained side which was fine with me as I prefer concertos that have less dynamic range. It is good but just shy of the brilliance and clarity of the best modern DDD recordings. But, the piano is wonderfully recorded and can be heard in great detail – especially vital for students.

This is a landmark CD set of timeless music that is a fine investment in the musical history of the western world. Is it “the best?” Who knows as there is really no such measure in music…. Compositions – 5 stars; Performance 5 stars; Sound quality – 4.5 stars.