4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inessential but fun early Mozart, August 18, 2000
This review is from: Harpsichord Concertos (Audio CD)
The opening of this record sings with childlike joy. The playing is very precise, colorful, and engaging.
What to expect: solo harpsichord music with violin accompaniment and sometimes more strings (though never more than about 5- this is chamber music). The three concertos are young Mozart's first in the genre (along with the Pasticci concertos 1-4), and are based on tunes by J.C. Bach. While the questions are rightly posed, "how much of this did Mozart write and how much of it was Leopold or other sources," the music stands for itself. While not neccesarily the work of a young genius sprung fully formed from Zeus' head, they are excellent examples of galant composition.
The works on this record could just as easily be performed on a fortepiano, but as Mozart himself was mostly playing on harpsichords at this early age, Hantai's choice is a logical one. His performance is much more fun-loving than the "smouldering Euro-musician" photograph inside would suggest. These rarely recorded works form Mozart's early notebooks are a good find, and I would recommend them to anyone with a serious interest in Mozart or mid-18th century obscurities.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
