Customer Reviews

Mozart: Piano Sonatas K.310, 331 & 533/494

5 star:		(5)
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3 star:		(1)
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Perahia's customary purity of tone and classical poise are completely at one with these Sonatas. Perahia understands that what brings this music to life is found between the notes in the form of subtle gradations of dynamic and phrasing. This is not to be missed. The Penguin Guide gave this a rosette and I agree whole-heartedly.

In this repertoire Perahia has no peer, his playing is technically perfect, lively in the allegros, melting in the andantes, with no self-promotion. The famous Rondo Alla Turca from Sonata No. 11 has never sounded better. Crystal clear recordings too make this collection of three of Mozart's better known Piano Sonatas a must for any lover of piano music. I only wish he had recorded the great Sonata No. 12 as well.

This is one of my favourite recordings. Murray Perahia makes each piece so involving - his playing is simply perfect. Of the other interpretations available I would also recommend those of Lili Kraus, Walter Klien, Mitsuko Uchida, all of whom offer complete sets, and one by Dinu Lipatti - in fact he performs the A minor, No.8, K310, and his version is closest in spirit, I think, to Mr.Perahia's - needless to add, it is utterly wonderful! Perahia's recent Bach recordings are just as tremendous.

In my humble opinion, these are the best ever versions of any Mozart sonatas. And not only that, this particular album is perhaps one of the best ever recordings of Perahia's entire repertoire.

Perahia's interpretation of these sonatas exactly matches how I imagine them. I ordered this for the Turkish rondo after listening to several performances. His is just right.

I am a big fan of Mozart's piano sonata #8 (K310) so I simply wanted to hear how Perahia plays it (because I liked his Bach very much when I heard it on the radio). Unfortunately I was not moved by his interpretations at all. His interpretations are indeed lively and expressive, but perhaps a bit too much that they sound nervous and unnatural to me. To be very sure of my feeling, I am listening to it again. And yes, they are too sensitive where I think they sholdn't be.

081710
Let me update my review a bit. I read somewhere (in a CD's note) a description "the maximum of virility coupled with the maximum of delicacy" for Mozart's music. This is so so true if you repeatedly listen to Mozart. So what I really wanted to say here is: delicacy, yes you can find it in this CD, but to me it's a rather faminine one. In my view, one has to pay great attention when playing Mozart, but not to the extent of losing the feeling of freeness.