Mozart the late piano sonatas

[Barbirollians]

I have been listening a lot recently to Maria Joao Pires's recordings of the Mozart sonatas.

I don't think from my earlier encounters with these works in the Barenboim cycle that I have been struck how from K457 and its accompanying Fantasia K 475 and the later K533 and K 576 how advanced this music sounds. The very opposite of " pretty" music that I have read being directed at the sonatas as a whole in the past .

What do forumites think of these sonatas? The Pires set has given me enormous pleasure over the last couple of months - superbly recorded and how she lets the music speak for itself.

[french frank]

I only have the Klára Würtz set on Brilliant. I already place Mozart at the head of my pantheon, so not surprising that I can listen to these for days on end. (Not actually non-stop, but not listening to any other music).

I have been listening a lot recently to Maria Joao Pires's recordings of the Mozart sonatas.

I don't think from my earlier encounters with these works in the Barenboim cycle that I have been struck how from K457 and its accompanying Fantasia K 475 and the later K533 and K 576 how advanced this music sounds. The very opposite of " pretty" music that I have read being directed at the sonatas as a whole in the past .

What do forumites think of these sonatas? The Pires set has given me enormous pleasure over the last couple of months - superbly recorded and how she lets the music speak for itself.

[HighlandDougie]

I've been dithering about ordering the big Alfred Brendel Philips box (one of Hafod's Amazon Italy spots - thanks, as always, Hafod!). Reading Barbs's post -
and realising that I have very few recordings of these marvellous sonatas on CD - made the decision for me as I have fond memories of hearing Brendel play several of them in recital. So, much looking forward to listening to them when the box arrives.

[pastoralguy]

I have the original Philips set of Mitsuko Uchida playing them which, according to the receipt, I bought on December 30th 1988 for £36! I'd worked all Christmas in Safeways and this was my Christmas Present to myself. Only the second set of cds I ever possessed and I remember loaning them to my piano teacher at college who thought they were marvellous.

[MickyD]

Ronald Brautigam hits the spot for me - a delightful-sounding fortepiano and a beautiful recording.

[Pianoman]

Brautigam for me generally, though I do have the earlier Denon cycle from Pires which is now on Brilliant. I think in some ways the playing on the earlier set had greater spontaneity but the piano tone and recording aren’t as good as the DG imo..

[Alison]

I have the original Philips set of Mitsuko Uchida playing them which, according to the receipt, I bought on December 30th 1988 for £36! I'd worked all Christmas in Safeways and this was my Christmas Present to myself. Only the second set of cds I ever possessed and I remember loaning them to my piano teacher at college who thought they were marvellous.

What was the first set Pasters? Heifetz?

[rauschwerk]

I have got to know these sonatas in the best way available to me: bashing through them. I think that only the first movement of K576 defeated me, and even Charles Rosen reckoned that it's really tough. I like to listen to Solomon playing that sonata.

[richardfinegold]

I've been dithering about ordering the big Alfred Brendel Philips box (one of Hafod's Amazon Italy spots - thanks, as always, Hafod!). Reading Barbs's post -
and realising that I have very few recordings of these marvellous sonatas on CD - made the decision for me as I have fond memories of hearing Brendel play several of them in recital. So, much looking forward to listening to them when the box arrives.

I have that box and it's been an enormous source of pleasure. Brendel may not be my favorite Mozart Pianist but he plays everything well and then there are a lot of apparently previously unreleased concerts included in the trove

[pastoralguy]

What was the first set Pasters? Heifetz?

I'm glad you ask, Alison!

There used to be a wine shop called 'Leon's Locker' at the bottom of Comiston Road at the Junction before it becomes Morningside and it was there that I saw and handled my first ever set of cds. (In Edinburgh). It was the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas played by David Oistrakh and Lev Oborin on Philips. To me, it was an exotic object since there were very few sets around owing to the dearth of manufacturing plants.

These were £28 which was a small fortune back in 1986 and I could only lust after them. However, the shop closed down and they started to reduce their discs and the Beethoven set was reduced to £24. Then £20. However, a birthday came although along and I got money which sent me hurtling towards Leon's Locker as fast as my little legs would carry me. Alas, the Beethoven set had gone. Ah well thinks I, too bad. However, the woman in the shop had put them aside for me and I got them for the princely sum of £15! To say I was chuffed would be an understatement!

I've still got them and sets regularly change hands on eBay in excess of £250. So THAT was my first set.

[silvestrione]

I have got to know these sonatas in the best way available to me: bashing through them. I think that only the first movement of K576 defeated me, and even Charles Rosen reckoned that it's really tough. I like to listen to Solomon playing that sonata.

Me too, even down to finding K576 too tricky. But these days, I enjoy more playing his miscellaneous pieces, especially, Adagio in B minor, Rondo in A minor, Minuet in D, Allemande (true Mozart C minor!) and Courante from the Suite. I think they have more of the essential Mozart in them (probably because I can play them! )

[waldo]

What do forumites think of these sonatas? The Pires set has given me enormous pleasure over the last couple of months - superbly recorded and how she lets the music speak for itself.

It seems strange to talk about "late" Mozart, given he died at 35. Then again, he was Mozart and a year for him is not the same as a year for anyone else.......

I've always loved this "late" style, especially in the piano sonatas. It is a world all its own: not quite as voluptuous or sensuous as his middle period, the textures are sparser and the harmonies are far more ambiguous, often outrageously dissonant. The overall tone is sometimes hard to judge - it somehow playful, tender and bitter-sweet all at the same time. In my view, the supreme peak and archetype of this style is K533/494. Some say the finale, pinched from a prior Rondo, is a let-down, but I think it fits perfectly and it concludes with a spectacular new cadenza.

There are also a few "late" piano pieces for two hands worth looking at. k608 is absolutely out of this world, though that is usually played as a Busoni transcription.

Pires is probably as good as anyone. I prefer her earlier Denon set over the later DG, but that is mainly because I prefer the overall acoustic. My favourite is still Uchida. Finer playing is harder to imagine.