Customer Reviews

Mozart: The Piano Sonatas [Box Set]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Andras Schiff plays these Mozart piano sonatas with much elegance and grace. Unlike Christoph Eschenbach's Romantic view of these scores, Schiff emphasizes style and technique over emotion. His tempi sound just right. Decca's sound recording is absolutely first rate for an early digital recording. Both Grammophone and Penguin CD guides regard Schiff's performances as definitive. Without question, this is a fine set of Mozart's piano music worth owning.

This five disk set is a very affordable way to become familiar with all of Mozart's piano sonatas. Schiff is a very gifted artist who plays these sonatas with the élan and intelligence they deserve. These pieces do not have the dramatic contrasts of the Beethoven sonatas nor the virtuosity of Mozart's piano concertos. Many of them can be played quite well by amateurs with moderate talent and experience, for whom many of them were written.

However, they are works of great beauty and full of Mozart's gift of sudden changes of subject while building up almost impossible feats of integration. It seems as if he is winking at you and says, "Well, how about THIS as well...". And then another miracle occurs. There are real challenges in some of the sonatas and those are the ones you most often here in a professional recital or on record. However, all music lovers should care about these works and become familiar with all of them.

And any student trying to learn these sonatas would do well to have a collection such as this as a reference. Not to slavishly copy; heavens no. But to get a solid foundation for what the piece is about and to see if your ideas actually fit the work or if you might be trying to cram something in that really doesn't belong. There are little nuances of phrasing that are important to learn from an artist of the quality of Schiff. One simply cannot achieve the Mozartian magic with simple four-square plodding through the notes measure upon measure. Mozart is far too subtle and quick for such clumsiness.

Recommended. Great music and a good value.

From the first time I listened this portentous keyboard 's artist, I was literally engaged with his admirable tune and austerity, that does not diminishes, nevertheless the magnificent lyricism and notorious expression.

The First Sonata finds in Schiff in plenitude of expression and blithesomeness. One of his best achievements along the set. The allegro is lovable and joyous. The Andante is one of the most inspired in Mozart 's repertoire and somehow we are in presence once more, of these accustomed leaps to the future: elegance and lyricism without affection.

The K. 282 is a perfumed performance. It possesses that precocious inspiration and maturity; it is strongly influenced by Haydn accents, but Mozart begins to show his artistic profile. The phrasing is seductive and involving. The Adagio can not be better played.

I must recognize I love this Sonata K. 332. It is so vivid, so filled of pristine nuance and gentle charm. Schiff 's exuberant pianism elevates the stature of this work. I must recognize the Adagio is slightly fast, lacking certain grade of introspective character. But he plays with such majestic and grace , letting the notes float in the air. The sublime arpeggio just before the recapitulation is terrific.

The Sonata K. 570 is one of the most mature works of Mozart. It is far to be at the same level of the Sonata K. 457 (to my mind his best achieved sonata), but it is so expressive, fragile and captivating that hardly you will be able t forget it, but is played with such conviction grade and excel phrasing that results hard to forget. I love this apparent pertness in the first section of the Adagio, that permits to play it with a fabulous perpetual beating, and so link with the second section evidently more darker and expressive, and return to the initial exposition loaded with minor anguish and wise innocence. Schiff returns and plays more restrained, having made the journey, with outstanding results. The apotheosis of the genuine irreverence and seductive charm is the Operatic final: so free and crystalline; engaging and delightful. One of the great knacks of Mr. Schiff.

In what the Sixth concerns we must establish this is a transient work; in Mozart that represents usually a leap to future; in similar way Amadeus makes the same with the Andante of the Ninth Piano Concert. The center of gravity of course, the Theme with Variations; if you pay special attention there is a very brief cite to the opening note of the later K. 331 's First Movement , and is made twice; in the second movement and antepenultimate variation for brief instants. The reading is interesting though Schiff does not reach the lovable expression of Glenn Gould or for instance the Beethovenian but valid approach of Daniel Barenboim.

The Sonata K. 330 is to many one of the happiest and freest works ever written by Mozart in any genre. He is certainly in the peak of his creative powers and Schiff 's inflections are remarkable, his crystalline phrasing and warmth expression involve the whole Sonata.The Allegro Moderato is blithe loaded with this characteristic savoir vivre of this age of Salzburg 's son. The Andante Cantabile is without doubt one of the glorious peaks in the music. The serene beauty of his melodic song is spelling and arresting and Schiff plays it with dreamy atmosphere; the Andante breaths not only a discrete charm but a hidden shadow of premonitory tragic lament, to link with an enigmatic pianissimo the initial theme more restrained and contemplative still than the first exposition. I find the K 331 a bit fast and sad, without that spring breath, specially in the First Movement. It is so graceful that constitutes as the First Movement of the Sonata 15 a true nest 's song , lovable and expressive.

The K 310 is to my mind his best achievement of the whole set. Admirable conception and well built atmosphere of eloquent expressiveness.

In sum, a memorable set that deserves to be part of your invaluable collection.

Besides the famous sonata facile in C major, none of Mozart's sonatas have recived the popularity of Beethoven's or Haydn's. Unlike the latter two who wrote their sonata for advanced musicans, Mozart's sonatas were intended for ametures and students. Thus, they have been dismissed and put aside to make room for the 27 grand concertos, where Mozart's real brilliance is shown. However, the sonata's are not to be dismissed. Though they lack much complexity, their beauty and typical Mozartian grace radiate.

Here, Andras Schiff plays the sonata's perfectly. The first time I heard them, I was disappointed because I felt there was not enough grandeur and emotion. However, these are not the emotional sonata's of Beethoven. These are works deeply rooted in the classical style. It would be musically incorrect to play these sonatas with sweeping dynamics and huge cords. Schiff plays all the sonatas with this beautiful quietness that lets the grace of each sonata come through. His masterful hands play each peice with delicate beauty. The B-flat sonata and the famous C-minor sonata and Fantasia are the best in the set. They are played wonderfully. Also, the Turkish March is great fun and quite beautiful. All in all, this is a great set at a great price with a great sound.

I think Schiff plays these sonatas very well, though personally I find them a bit on the dry side. My choice for this music is Eschenbach, but that is an admittedly biased position, and anywone interested in this area of Mozart's work should listen to all recordings if possible. However, please beware of ANY reviewer or publication that claims that a particular performance is "perfect" or "definitive." That's just nonsense - there is no such thing as a perfect or definitive recording; some of course are better than others, but there's always a chance that an even better performance is waiting in the wings. Listen and decide for yourself.

First of all, buying boxed sets is expensive and especially so in classical music. Unless you buy from Naxos which has comparable interpretations, you are left with generic labels that tend to be lower in quality. The big labels generally charge $45 and up for these sets especially with the amount of piano sonatas Mozart composed. This is one performance that is from a relatively big label in which Schiff performs well above par but beneath the level of really great virtuosos such as Rubinstein and Brendel. Even Brendel sometimes is not at his best. The performance is sensual but lacks a little of the warmth typical of Mozart; he tends to mute the strings too soon when they should have been left to ring a little longer. He could also strike the keys harder on some of the faster ones. He also prefers to interpret the meter at a conservative pace. His performance is therefore cautious but not overly rigid: there is a fluidity and grace to his performance that warms the heart. In terms of having the best performance at the most reasonable price, this one is certainly one of the best choices one can make for these works.

listening to three of these sonatas(k331,k332 and k333)on an ELOQUENCE label by Schiff was a dreary and dull experience.i thought of sampling Schiff's performance after going through the rave reviews but it was disappointing to say the least.No joy,no playfulness!i have listened to some excellent recordings of these pieces by the late Clara Haskil on the radio-very graceful and playful.
I also like to draw attention to some excellent playing by the Soviet pianist Mikhail Pletnev (perhaps on a melodya label)of mozart's sonatas.they are a joy to listen with adroit twists and turns typical of Mozart!

Besides the famous sonata facile in C major, none of Mozart's sonatas have received the popularity of Beethoven's sonatas. Unlike the latter, who wrote this sonatas for advanced musicians (usually himself), Mozart's sonatas were never intended as dramatic show pieces. Thus, they have all too quickly been dismissed and put aside to make room for the 27 grand concertos, where Mozart's "real" brilliance is shown. However, the sonatas are not to be dismissed. Their subtle complexity and chromatic intensity, their beauty, and their grace radiate powerfully in their sublime beauty.

Here, Andras Schiff plays the sonata's well, but not convincingly enough to receive, in my mind, the title definitive. The first time I heard them, I was disappointed because I felt there was not enough grandeur and emotion. Although these are not the emotional sonata's of Beethoven, Schiff's playing can at times sound very wooden. His skill is second to none, I am not arguing that, it is, however, that he just doesn't seem "convinced" by these pieces. It is as if he is just "playing" the notes rather than creating music. I do not mean to sound too harsh, for the music is still wonderful. The B-flat sonata and the famous C-minor sonata and Fantasia are the best in the set and are played quite well. Also, the Turkish March is great fun and quite beautiful. All in all, this is a good set at a great price with a good recorded sound. Although there are better sets, this one is quite deserving of four stars ... just not five.

Terrific playing, great style + character! Superb performances. Buy the set if you are interested in hearing some of the best Mozart playing ever.

Good Points

-releaves my headache
-livens up my mood
-made me sleep without nightmares

************THANK YOU************