The Gulda Mozart Tapes: 10 Sonatas and a Fantasy [United Kingdom] [Import]

Mozart (Artist), Gulda (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import
• Label: Dg Imports
• ASIN: B000CQ741A
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Sonata No.10 In C Major, K.330

2. Piano Sonata No.12 In F, K.332

3. Piano Sonata No.13 In B Flat, K.333

4. Piano Sonata No.1 In C, K.279

5. Piano Sonata No.2 In F, K.280

6. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Flat, K.281

7. Piano Sonata No.4 In E Flat, K.282

8. Piano Sonata No.5 In G, K.283

9. Fantasia In C Minor, K.475

10. Piano Sonata No.15 In C, K.545 "Facile"

11. Piano Sonata No.9 In D, K.311

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless Gulda/Mozart, November 14, 2006

By 

Oldnslow (Seattle, Washington USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gulda Mozart Tapes: 10 Sonatas and a Fantasy [United Kingdom] (Audio CD)

A fascinating take on the Mozart Sonatas. Very fiery, aggreessive, almost Beethoven-like playing of these well known sonatas. I especially liked the earlier, less well known sonatas. It's a shame K.310 in A-minor is not included, but I'm thrilled with what we have, and thank DG for making Gulda's Mozart available. Not to be missed. Gulda may have been eccentric, but he was a unique and important artist.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo Gulda!, April 10, 2008

By 

N. Nera (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gulda Mozart Tapes: 10 Sonatas and a Fantasy [United Kingdom] (Audio CD)

This is one of the most thrilling recorded performances of Mozart's piano sonatas I have ever heard, and I've listened to so many. There's nothing 'robotic' about these performances, as one reviewer wrote, certainly a misunderstanding of what Gulda achieved here. Mozart does not always have to be sweet and light, like in many other recordings of these sonatas. Fortunately, Mozart is a lot more than that. What Gulda achieved here is something that many recorded performances do not have: full of life, direct, and simple. There is no self-conscious playing here or exaggeration. And with an uncanny sense of rhythmic propulsion, Gulda's playing of these sonatas is riveting(just listen to the 3rd movt. of K. 283). Often, his playing is virtuosic, which is something that may come as a surprise to anyone not familiar with these sonatas or see them as easy to play(which they're not). Gulda successfully brings out the virtuosic elements in these sonatas. As to cantabile, Gulda projects singing lines with utmost simplicity, and yet so beautifully. There is magic in his playing, which compels one to listen to these sonatas over and over again. Certainly, this set, although incomplete, is one of the best available. I warmly recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love These Recordings!, January 16, 2010

By 

Warstub - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gulda Mozart Tapes: 10 Sonatas and a Fantasy [United Kingdom] (Audio CD)

I have Brendel, I have Uchida, I have Gould and Ciccolini even, but none are such a pure joy to listen to as Gulda! I've always enjoyed Brendel's Mozart, and Uchida's Concertos with Tate are very good indeed, but when it comes to the sonatas, Gulda plays them with such spirit and gusto that the music finally comes alive in a way that I thought I was never going to experience. Some may say he's heavy handed, but I bet Mozart never played these pieces light-handed himself; Ciccolini is interesting but a little slow at times which doesn't always compliment his own heavy-handedness; Here Gulda brings the tempos up slightly (but not as quick as Brendel) allowing the music to pulse and jive under his fingers.

The recording is mastered quite high, much higher than most classical recordings, so you may find that the single piano on these recordings has a similar volume level as a full orchestra on other recordings.