Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos / Concerto for Three Pianos / Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 242, 365, 478 (Bernstein Century) [Original recording remastered]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor, Performer), New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Robert Fizdale (Performer), Arthur Gold (Performer), Juliard String Quartet (members) (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leonard Bernstein, Robert Fizdale, Arthur Gold, Juliard String Quartet (members)
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (September 29, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000C299
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,831 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, September 14, 2008

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David Saemann - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos / Concerto for Three Pianos / Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 242, 365, 478 (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

This is a highly interesting CD. In the Concerto for 2 Pianos, Gold and Fizdale adopt what now would seem like rather slow tempos. Nevertheless, their playing is stylish and sensitive. Bernstein doesn't have much to do in the accompaniment, but he never gets in the way of his soloists. The Concerto for 3 Pianos is the real prize on this CD. Bernstein is the third pianist and conductor, and you can hear his playing very clearly given the stereo separation. The performance has great charm and elegance, with I believe a somewhat reduced orchestra for the accompaniment. In the Piano Quartet, Bernstein plays very well, but without the charm of George Szell on his classic 1946 recording with members of the Budapest Quartet. Still, this is an enjoyable performance. As a whole, the CD sheds an interesting light on Bernstein as a Mozartian, and the sound engineering from three different sessions between 1965 and 1970 is clear and full, if rather dry in the Concerto for 3 Pianos.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars *** 1/2 Spirited performances that seem a bit dated, March 5, 2011

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Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos / Concerto for Three Pianos / Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 242, 365, 478 (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

I've admired Bernstein in the role of pianist, especially when he lent his fame to chamber music (as have Levine, Solti, Szell, and Tilson Thomas, to name a few). In the Royal Edition that preceded Bernstein Century, there's access to the Ravel G major Cto., among other things that Bernstein conducted from the piano, and of course his early recording of Rhapsody in Blue is a bestselling classic. With that in mind, I wish I could be more enthusiastic about this convenient album that gathers together Mozart's cheerful two- and three-piano concertos along with a masterpiece of chamber music, his Piano Quartet in G minor K. 478. the timing is generous at 78 min. and the remastered sound is very good.

But the piano duo of Gold and Fizdale are routine musicians, no match for other rivals where two or three star soloists like Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu join up for a merry time. Despite Bernstein's exuberant accompaniments, Gold and Fizdale don't seem to be having any kind of good time in the sparkling K. 365 concerto for two pianos, and the tempo for the finale drags by modern standards. The three-piano concert K. 242 is a lesser work but gets a touch more vitality by the inclusion of Bernstein into the keyboard mix. Neither reading leaves much of an impression.

As for the piano quartet, performed with members of the Juilliard Qt., the reading is stylish, with nicely turned phrasing and an air of congeniality, but Bernstein's pianism lacks personality, and on the whole the deeper emotional implications of this rather enigmatic work don't come through. Again, no real impression was made, so in the final analysis this is a CD that will appeal mostly to fans of the late, great man.

6 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Plays and Conducts? I expect better of Lenny, July 25, 2000

By 

Robert Macedo-Alves (Madeira, Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos / Concerto for Three Pianos / Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 242, 365, 478 (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

Leonard Bernstein tries to show off here, playing Mozart and conducting form the piano. The result was a little less than satisfying. Not like this is a bad recording, but this CD left me a little bit dissappointed. I think the 'Bernsteinian' touch which makes his performances unforgettable is missing in this recording. Maybe is the 'conducting from the piano thing' which I think is not a good and explicit orchestral direction technique. However, this is not-that-bad Mozart. But it would have been much better if Bernstein had just conducted and had somebody else as a soloist.