Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Performer), Richard Goode (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Richard Goode
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (October 19, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B0000206A1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,487 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488: Allegro

2. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488: Adagio

3. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488: Allegro assai

4. Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491: Allegro

5. Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491: Larghetto

6. Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491: Allegretto

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Goode and Orpheus are taking their collective time recording Mozart's piano concertos, which is probably a good thing, in view of the results. Both of these performances, of extremely familiar works, benefit from intense concentration and fresh approaches. Goode appropriately stresses the lyrical side of No. 23, and even essays a bit of mild embellishment in the beautifully played slow movement. No. 24, the famous C-minor concerto, is played with Beethovenian gruffness and power, moving the music into the 19th century. The modesty of Robert Levin's fortepiano recordings seems more like what Mozart expected to hear. But as more forward-looking performances go, these splendid readings are the equal of the much-praised Uchida/Tate versions. Not only is the lack of a conductor no detriment, but the individuality and expressiveness of the orchestral lines here are remarkable. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Mozart!, December 25, 2005

By 

M. Levitt - classical music buff (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24 (Audio CD)

This is my first time hearing pianist Richard Goode and the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble in a recording of the Mozart Piano Concertos. In a word, they are outstanding.

I have recordings of these two concertos by Brendel/Marriner, Curzon/Kertesz, Ashkenazy (Philharmonia Orchestra), Howard Shelley (London Mozart Players), Barenboim (Berlin Philharmonic), not to mention other pianists whose recordings I have of Concerto no.23, but not 24, or vice versa.

Performancewise, Richard Goode can be very lyrical one moment, poetic the next. His runs are sparkling, his pianissimos very delicate. The Orpheus Chamber Ensemble is superb. If I didn't have so many recordings of the Mozart Piano Concertos, I'd be going out to get the other Goode/Orpheus Chamber Ensemble recordings; that is how impressed I am by their playing and this recording. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that possibly Howard Shelley's Mozart playing is the most poetic of those I have, but Richard Goode is right up there.

Good, clear sound.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Goode, August 25, 2004

By 

R. A. MCFARLANE (Wellington, NZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24 (Audio CD)

Easily the finest interpretation of these two works on CD, as a quick audition will reveal. Such unanimity of thought, such fresh phrasing make this an inspirational experience not to be missed. No problems with the sound at all, a very natural acoustic with a life-like string sound adding to my pleasure of this release, a favourite CD.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Elite Performance -- Not a Very Good Recording, April 5, 2001

By 

Michael R. Leghorn (Evanston, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24 (Audio CD)

I'll make this short & simple. I like the performance, but have a hard time getting past the sound. For some reason the violin sound is completely lacking in the high frequencies. The piano sounds fine, however. I suspect that there was a lot of spotlighting with the microphone placement, and that the violins were recorded too closely. Other recordings I have of various Mozart piano concertos are with Brendel/Marriner, Brendel/Mackerras, O'Conor/Mackerras, Uchida/Tate, Schiff/Vegh. I consider them all the be very fine performances. As far as sound goes, the Goode/Orpheus and Uchida/Tate are my least favorite recordings. The playing by the Orpheus CO is top notch.