Customer Reviews

Mozart Piano Concertos: Complete Mozart Edition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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If you need an introduction to Mozart, this starting point remains unmatched. While not my first Mozart, this collection was the first CD i owned. The purchase has never been regretted. Indeed, it maintains a pride of place in my shelves.

Brendel's performance throughout this series is impeccable. He delves into Mozart's music as if he'd been sitting in a salon with Mozart reviewing the composition. There is a strong sense of time and place in all the renditions of the master's expressive genius. Brendel has avoided the trap of "updating" the performance to some 20th Century idea of how they should be rendered. Brendel brings a sense of the delicacy to his performances without losing an iota of the power behind Mozart's compositions. Brendel seems to impart Mozart's evolving maturity as he recaptures the fourteen year duration over which these pieces were composed. Mozart would hear his music with pride were he here to enjoy Brendel's recreations.

This collection sits quite close to my CD player. It takes little prompting to reach for it and randomly bring Mozart back to life through Brendel's playing. Choosing a "favourite" is difficult, if not impossible, but the 21st seems selected more often than not. Brendel's talent takes the listener into realms of musical rapture whichever concerto is played. It's impossible not to listen to these pieces without feeling a sense of reverence, both for the composer and his modern interpreter.

Marriner and The Academy undeservedly have been overlooked here. To a new generation it must be noted that Neville Marriner kept the Academy of St Martin in the Fields at the apex of the Baroque for many years. This orchestra is the ideal choice to accompany Brendel's rendition of Mozart's music. While the initial cost of this set may seem intimidating, the investment is more than worth the outlay. Take the plunge, remembering that you'll be enriching your life with the purchase.

For the complete collection of Mozart's Piano Concertos I chose this one. I will admit that I listen to mostly No's 8, 17, 19, 22-27 (22 & 23 are superb. No. 22 rocks! ) most of the time. But I listen to the other discs also, and I can tell you they are all excellent. I listen to these nowadays while writing in the mornings and they are great companions....

If you're serious about the Concertos, then this collection is just right for you. Brendel is on the mark almost all the time, (I own six performances of No.20 for example, and his cadenzas are the best) and Mariner and the Academy, well, I almost hate to admit it, they are better than anybody else I have heard in this type of collection. --- Email me if you find a better collection !

Mozart never ceases to amaze me.

This is music from heaven. All the wonderful Piano Concertos are here on twelve discs. All are excellent. The Piano playing of Alfred Brendel is superb and the Orchestra with Neville Mariner is also very good. I like the most No. 8, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25. They are beautiful to listen to. It is the work and inspiration of a genius, just like me, ha ha ha. If you want to go to heaven without leaving your House, then listen to this music.

For a full-blown review of the works on this set, see my review of the Mozart Complete Piano Concertos Boxed Set, which you can find easily by doing an Amazon search using the words "Mozart Marriner Brendel" and which shows the facade of a building with sky behind it on the cover. (What they has to do with Mozart I don't know.) That is exactly the same set as this, only re-released in a thinner, space-saving box format with the discs in paper sleeves. The above set is the original incarnation, in a larger "brick" box with plastic cases and different liner notes. This set is about five inches thick, vs. the 1.5 inches for the reissue box. The liner notes are better here--there are two essays, and one is by Brendel himself, along with photos of the participants. The booklet in the newer boxed set has a very generic essay on the concertos with no commentary from Brendel and no photos. The music sounds the same, and is presented in the same order. Your choice--if you have space limitations on your bulging shelves you'll want the other box. If space is not a concern and the price is cheaper here, goes with this issue. Either way you'll get a very fine overview of the piano concertos, well-played but not always the most memorable. You'll definitely want to round out your favorites with other great recordings.

This is an unbeatable combination: Alfred Brendal on piano and Academy of saint martin in the fields orchestra. I have listened to all of the main pianist playing these 27 concertos, only Murray Perahia can come close to this one. If you really like these concertos, get this set and Murray Perahia's set, they are both superb but sound quite different. If you have to chose one, choose this one. Dont consider any of the other pianists.

you definitely need to try this group. brendel is incomparable! most of the time he plays flawlessly, and when he doesn't (very rarely) the academy makes up for it. i sincerely think that any mozart done by marriner is worth buying. i know that this is quite an expensive investment, but please consider this exquisite set, i'm sure you won't be disappointed. oh, by the way, the rondo of no. 22 is one of my favorites, and brendel misses some of the crucial aspects of it for some unknown reason; so, i advise anyone to use the no. 22 rondo from the amadeus soundtrack instead (moravec) - and while you're at it, zacharias' version of the 1st mvnt. of no. 20 is actually better, but brendel's romanza is the best ever! so, in conclusion, buy brendel and you won't be sorry! thanks! mozart is the love of my life...believe me when i say this is great!

Great Quality. Only negative thing is maybe too high priced.