BaL 14.05.11 - Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 17

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Robert Philip recommends a recording of Mozart's Piano Concerto no 17 in G K.453.

Available versions:

Brendel, Vienna Volksoper Orchestra, Angerer
Andsnes, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Katsaris, Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, Yoon Kuk Lee
Anderszewski, Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Uchida, English Chamber Orchestra, Tate
Anda, Camerata Academica des Salzburger Mozarteums
Anda, Cologne Radio Orchestra, Keilberth
Anda, English Chamber Orchestra
Askenase, Schuricht
O'Conor, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Mackerras
Zacharias, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
Voskresensky, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Nikolaev
Andsnes, Cleveland Orchestra, Welser-Most
Richter, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Barshai
Balsam, The Haydn Orchestra, Newstone
Ashkenazy, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto
Schornsheim, New Bach Collegium Musicum Leipzig, Glaetzner
Casadesus, RAI Milan Symphony Orchestra, Previtali
Pires, VPO, Abbado
Bashkirov, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Dubrovski
Schmidt, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Masur
Shelley, London Mozart Players
Immerseel, Anima Eterna
Jarrett, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Davies
Jando, Concentus Hungaricus, Ligeti
Badura-Skoda, Prague Chamber Orchestra
Brendel, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Mackerras
Fischer, Edwin Fischer Chamber Orchestra
Pires....
Staier...
Casadesus, Cleveland Orchestra, Szell
Schnabel...
Haebler...
Barenboim, English Chamber Orchestra
Egorov, Philharmonia Orchestra, Sawallisch
Schiff, Camarata Academica des Mozarteums Salzburg, Vegh
Bilson, English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner
Buchbinder, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Fedossejew
Engel, Mozart-Orchestre Salzburg, Hager
Ashkenazy, Philharmonia Orchestra
Sofronitsky, Musica Antiqua Collegium Varoviense, Karolak
Brendel, ASMF, Marriner
Perahia, English Chamber Orchestra

Of course, the cynic in me leads me to believe that all pre-2000 performances along with all those without the benefit of modern instruments will be mercilessly discarded in favour of something academic...

[Petrushka]

Of course, the cynic in me leads me to believe that all pre-2000 performances along with all those without the benefit of modern instruments will be mercilessly discarded in favour of something academic...

I'm fairly sure that Robert Philip isn't that kind of reviewer, EA, or at least I hope not.

I have a soft spot for Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia in this, one of my favourite Mozart PC's.

[aeolium]

There's also the later Barenboim version with the BPO. I like the Ashkenazy/Philharmonia version too, and it's a pity that Andor Foldes' recording with the BPO is not available. What about Richard Goode & Orpheus CO - didn't they record this?

[rauschwerk]

Nothing is likely to disturb my allegiance to Perahia - K453 is one of his very finest recordings. It was through Brendel's Vox recording that I got to know the work. The trouble with that is that he and his conductor do not maintain a consistent pulse throughout the variation finale.

[salymap]

I have Barenboim with the ECO, a precious LP of the above mentioned Andor Foldes with the Berlin P.O, and Hans Richter-Haaser with the Philharmonia and Kertesz. Also several taped performances.

When I hear it I always think it my favourite Mozart P.C. However I feel like that about others sometimes.

[amateur51]

I'm fairly sure that Robert Philip isn't that kind of reviewer, EA, or at least I hope not.

I have a soft spot for Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia in this, one of my favourite Mozart PC's.

Robert Philip is definitely 'old-school' Petrushka, has a lovely broadcasting style for BAL and is as sharp as a tack. I'm looking forward to this one!

[Nick Armstrong]

When I hear it I always think it my favourite Mozart P.C. However I feel like that about others sometimes.

You said it, Saly!

That's Mozart Piano Concertos for you

I seem to remember liking Mr Philp's style (the Dickensian name I like, too!) so I'm also looking forward to this

[vinteuil]

... harrumph ...

ignoring Alpensinfonie's predictable sneering reference - 'those without the benefit of modern instruments' - benefits! - psha! -
I have to say I am currently enjoying enormously the marvellous set of the complete fortepiano concertos with Viviana Sofronitsky (daughter of the other one) with Musica Antiqua Collegium Varsoviense and Tadeusz Karolak on et'cetera - up there with Levin, Staier, van Immerseel, and Bilson...

[makropulos]

A few versions I don't see here:
Pollini/VPO (directed from the keyboard)
Levin/NY Philomusica (modern piano)
Levin/AAM/Hogwood (period instruments, available from Arkiv.com)
Bernstein/VPO (directed from the keyboard, and one of LB's best Mozart performances - available on DVD)
Aimard/COE (directed from the keyboard - available as a download)
Dohnanyi/Budapest PO (directed from the keyboard - available from Pristine Audio)
Horszowski/Musica Aeterna/Waldman (was on Pearl - probably still available used)
Henkemans/VSO/Pritchard (available on Bearac BRC 2864)
Rubinstein/RCA Victor SO/Wallenstein (available of Sony/BMG)
Serkin's three recordings (with Szell, Schneider and Abbado) - surely at least one of them is still available, at least as a download?
Zacharias's earlier recording (EMI, with Marriner) is available from EMI France in a ludicrously cheap box of his EMI series.

There are more, but these ones are all worth putting into the mix. Levin's live NY Philomusica performance is one of my all-time favourites, as is Bernstein's live Vienna film, and Levin's AAM/Hogwood disc, mercifully rescued from oblivion by Arkiv.

Schiff's box set of the concertos with Vegh is, I think, still around on Decca too?

[vinteuil]

Makropulos -
yes, I treasure Levin/AAM.
And also the Zacharias/Stuttgart/Marriner on EMI.
And also Perahia..
And Habler...
And Anda....

[Barbirollians]

I agree that this is one of the highlights of Perahia's cycle and is much my favourite.

[MickyD]

Hello Vinteuil - I must confess I didn't know about this Polish HIPP cycle, when did it come out? I already have the Bilson cycle and the incomplete one from Levin, but never got round to acquiring Immerseel. I also have the handful that Staier did and like them very much.

[vinteuil]

Hello Vinteuil - I must confess I didn't know about this Polish HIPP cycle, when did it come out? I already have the Bilson cycle and the incomplete one from Levin, but never got round to acquiring Immerseel. I also have the handful that Staier did and like them very much.

Micky - it's recent - very good - and I picked it up cheapish from Amazon!

[vinteuil]

Micky - it's recent - very good - and I picked it up cheapish from Amazon!

... actually Amazon.fr - 43 euros for 11 CDs...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

ignoring Alpensinfonie's predictable sneering reference - 'those without the benefit of modern instruments' - benefits! - psha! -

I wasn't really sneering, Vinteuil; it was more an attempt to shift the balance a little. Some reviewers are very dismissive of performances on modern instruments, and I think this attitude is wrong.