Customer Reviews

Mozart: Piano Sonatas K 310, 311, 533/494; Fantasy K.397

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The latest CD in Alfred Brendel's ongoing cycle of Mozart's piano sonatas features more of his introspective, vibrant playing of these sonatas. Yet my favorite performance on this CD is his rendition of Mozart's Fantasy in D minor, a lively demonstration of Brendel's technical skill and flair at the keyboard. These are splendid recordings that capture the essence of his live performances which I've heard in the past few years at Carnegie Hall, replete with much empathy for Mozart's scores and subtle, refined playing. Without a doubt this should be regarded as one of Brendel's essential recordings of late Classical piano music. The sound quality is excellent too.

A thought that keeps coming to my mind as I listened to these exceptionally wise and tasteful performances is that this is precisely how Mozart's great contemporary Haydn would have played the pieces. As Haydn said to Mozart's father Leopold: "Before God and as an honest man I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name. He has taste, and what is more, the most profound knowledge of composition." Although it is arguable what Haydn meant by "taste", this is invariably the word that comes to my mind as I listened to these performances. With Mozart, one gets the sense that he knows exactly what his musical material can bear. There is never a feeling (as I sometimes have while listening to Beethoven) that the music has gone on too long, or is asked to convey things that it's incapable of. Brendel's performances are the epitome of taste in that he accorded these pieces precisely the kind of respect, warmth, liveliness and humor that they deserve. Nothing is exaggerated, yet there is none of the blandness that came from excessively scholarly or historical performance considerations. As an example, I can't think of anything more magical than the beginning of the Rondo of K533. Despite the proliferation of Mozart CDs in this birthday year, I can think of few other issues that come as close to perfection as this one.

Again, Mr. Brendel gives us a wonderful interpretation of Mozart's piano sonatas. He has obviousely spent decades with this music, and is now recording it towards the end of a remarkable career. To me, Brendel has three periods - his early days in the sixties with Vox, the seventies through the end of the eighties with Philips, and his third period which began in the early nineties and continues to proceed apace. This disc was recorded last year. Brendel is able to breath life into this music by creating a three-dimensional effect with articulation and phrasing. Everything he does is completely well thought out and intelligently placed. He plays the first movements with drive and conviction. Second movements are handled delicately and sensuousely, with extraordinary understanding. The third movements are always full of verve. The Fantasy in D minor is new to me and is first rate Mozart. We can all learn from this great artist who has dedicated his life to his work and developed over the years into a true master.

I do consider the late Alfred Brendel - without any exaggeration - as the most interesting living pianist of our time. Confessing himself that he felt able to tackle the Mozart piano sonatas only towards the crepuscule of his performing career - a long and prestigious one, spanning more than six decades at the highest level of the international musical life - Brendel quotes Arthur Schnabel in saying that "they are too easy for children, while too difficult for artists". Notwithstanding, the result of that wonderful series of 4 CDs (of which this is the 3rd), issued by Philips a few years ago, seems to contradict Schnabel's assertion. Could these sonatas be too difficult indeed, but they are so only for common pianists, not for an artist of Brendel's stature.

Always scrupulous and respectful regarding the score he deals with, Brendel proves himself here at his most imaginative and inspired. Listening to the Fantasy K 397 or Sonata in A minor K 310, one immediately understands why his recorded renditions are so much sough-after and his live performances so eagerly anticipated and sold-out all over the world. It is all about a higher thoughtful vision of music, not simply a mechanical reproduction of the notes. Brendel masterfully commands an impressive range of technical skills and a keen sensitivity that altogether made sense and charm in Mozart territory.

Be astounded by these evergreen classical gems in the inspired interpretation by Alfred Brendel! This is a sample of true artistry!

i like gulda style

i think brendel is better at schubert

not mozart

the style is cerebral not musical