Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Christian Zacharias
Orchestra: Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
Conductor: Christian Zacharias
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: MDG
Catalogue: MDG9401298
Release: 2013
Size: 190 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in E-flat Major, K. 271, “Jeunehomme”
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andantino
03. III. Rondeau. Presto – Menuetto. Cantabile – Tempo primo
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F Major, K. 413
04. I. Allegro
05. II. Larghetto
06. III. Tempo di menuetto
MDG reissues some of the wonderful recordings of Christian Zacharias performing Mozart’s Piano Concertos. The original recordings received various review awards, including a Repertoire 10 from the French magazine.
Will listeners raised on virtuoso performances of Mozart’s piano concertos be able to make room in the hearts for Christian Zacharias’ recordings with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne? It depends on how willing they are to forego the pleasures of virtuosity for the pleasures music-making. This is not to say that Zacharias isn’t a virtuoso pianist. As his twenty years of recordings make very clear, he has talents and abilities far beyond those of most mortal pianists. But it is to say that, as those recordings make equally clear, Zacharias is far more interested in music-making than he is in virtuosity. As both pianist and conductor here, Zacharias leads performances which are all about sympathetic interplay, about musicians listening to each other, about the meaning behind the notes and the joy inside the notes. The Lausanne musicians respond joyfully to Zacharias’ direction, playing with him and not for him and breathing life into every line and sonority. While listeners raised on virtuoso performances may find something lacking, those listeners who value playing together more than showing off will find much to enjoy.
Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm’s sound is ideally balanced between detail and depth and between immediacy and atmosphere, thereby providing an aural image of a real pianist with a real orchestra in a real place in real time.