Schiff: Mozart – The Piano Sonatas (5 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Andras Schiff
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set
Format: APE (tracks)
Label: Decca
Size: 1.03 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

Disc 1
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. Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 1. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 2. Andante
06. Piano Sonata No.16 in C, K.545 “Sonata facile” – 3. Rondo (Allegro)
07. Fantasia in C minor, K.475 – Adagio
08. Fantasia in C minor, K.475 – Allegro
09. Fantasia in C minor, K.475 – Andantino
10. Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor, K.457 – 1. Molto allegro
11. Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor, K.457 – 2. Adagio
2. Piano Sonata No.14 in C minor, K.457 – 3. Allegro assai

Disc 2
01. Piano Sonata No.11 in A, K.331 -“Alla Turca” – 1. Tema (Andante grazioso) con variazioni
02. Piano Sonata No.11 in A, K.331 -“Alla Turca” – 2. Menuetto
03. Piano Sonata No.11 in A, K.331 -“Alla Turca” – 3. Alla Turca (Allegretto)
04. Piano Sonata No.8 in A minor, K.310 – 1. Allegro maestoso
05. Piano Sonata No.8 in A minor, K.310 – 2. Andante cantabile con espressione
06. Piano Sonata No.8 in A minor, K.310 – 3. Presto
07. Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 – 1. Allegro
08. Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 – 2. Adagio
09. Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 – 3. Allegretto

Disc 3
01. Piano Sonata No.15 in F, K.533/494 – 1. Allegro, K.533
02. Piano Sonata No.15 in F, K.533/494 – 2. Andante, K.533
03. Piano Sonata No.15 in F, K.533/494 – 3. Rondo (Allegretto), K.494
04. Piano Sonata No.3 in B flat, K.281 – 1. Allegro
05. Piano Sonata No.3 in B flat, K.281 – 2. Andante amoroso
06. Piano Sonata No.3 in B flat, K.281 – 3. Rondeau (Allegro)
07. Piano Sonata No.9 in D, K.311 – 1. Allegro con spirito
08. Piano Sonata No.9 in D, K.311 – 2. Andantino con espressione
09. Piano Sonata No.9 in D, K.311 – 3. Rondeau (Allegro)
10. Piano Sonata No.7 in C, K.309 – 1. Allegro con spirito
11. Piano Sonata No.7 in C, K.309 – 2. Andante, un poco adagio
12. Piano Sonata No.7 in C, K.309 – 3. Rondeau (Allegretto grazioso)

Disc 4
01. Piano Sonata No.6 in D, K.284 “D?rnitz” – 1. Allegro
02. Piano Sonata No.6 in D, K.284 “D?rnitz” – 2. Rondeau en Polonaise (Andante)
03. Piano Sonata No.6 in D, K.284 “D?rnitz” – 3. Tema con variazione
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.10 in C major, K.330 – 1. Allegro moderato
08. Piano Sonata No.10 in C major, K.330 – 2. Andante cantabile
09. Piano Sonata No.10 in C major, K.330 – 3. Allegretto
10. Piano Sonata No.2 in F, K.280 – 1. Allegro assai
11. Piano Sonata No.2 in F, K.280 – 2. Adagio
12. Piano Sonata No.2 in F, K.280 – 3. Presto

Disc 5
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.4 in E flat, K.282 – 1. Adagio
05. Piano Sonata No.4 in E flat, K.282 – 2. Menuetto I-II
06. Piano Sonata No.4 in E flat, K.282 – 3. Allegro
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
10. Piano Sonata No.17 in B flat, K.570 – 1. Allegro
11. Piano Sonata No.17 in B flat, K.570 – 2. Adagio
12. Piano Sonata No.17 in B flat, K.570 – 3. Allegretto

A set that will stand the test of time, always enjoyable.

I’m listening to this as a I type this review, and for me this is one of the most satisfying accounts of the Mozart sonatas I have in my collection. My “comparison benchmark” is Uchida on Philips and I find I alternate between these two artists and their recordings. The Schiff recordings reviewed here tend to win me over on the technical aspects of the recorded sound, warm and inviting. Uchida has what one may call the “Mozart magic” to her touch and interpretation but is recorded in a colder more clinical way.

I would unhesitatingly recommend the Schiff cycle here (but would add that any collector should also have the Uchida set as a companion)