Classical Net

The Internet's Premier Classical Music Source

Related Links

Recommended Links

Give the Composers Timeline Poster



Site News

What's New for
Winter 2018/2019?

Site Search

Follow us on
Facebook    Twitter

Affiliates

In association with
Amazon
Amazon UKAmazon GermanyAmazon CanadaAmazon FranceAmazon Japan

ArkivMusic
CD Universe

JPC
ArkivMusic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

CD Review

Wolfgang Mozart

Piano Concertos, Volume 1

  • Concerto for Piano #13 in C Major, K 415 (387b)
  • Concerto for Piano #12 in A Major K 414 (385p)
  • Concerto for Piano #14 in E Flat Major, K 449
  • Concerto for Piano #5 in D Major, K 175
  • Rondo in D Major, K 382
  • Concerto for Piano #23 in A Major, K 488
Jeremy Menuhin, piano
English Symphony Orchestra/Jeremy Menuhin
Nimbus NI5749/50 2CDs 139m DDD
Find it at AmazonFind it at Amazon UKFind it at Amazon GermanyFind it at Amazon CanadaFind it at Amazon FranceFind it at Amazon JapanOrder Now from ArkivMusic.comFind it at CD Universe

With Mozart's anniversary year creating an almost insatiable appetite for the master's works, we are being confronted by what can only be termed as a veritable flood of new releases in every single genre.

The recently re-formed Nimbus appear to be embarking on what looks likes to be a complete cycle of piano concertos with the talented Jeremy Menuhin as both pianist and conductor, a similar version to Daniel Barenboim on EMI many years ago or like the ongoing cycle by Christian Zacharias and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra on MD&G.

The English Symphony Orchestra provides what can only be termed as admirable support and Menuhin's piano playing is truly a delight to hear. Sample him in the delectable K415 with its enthusiastic Rondo finale or in the somewhat ponderous slow movement of the majestic K488 and you hear a pianist who thoroughly understands the Mozart idiom.

I must say that I still regard Clifford Curzon and Géza Anda' as benchmarks in these works with the former quite unapproachable especially in his partnerships with Kertész and Britten.

However, Nimbus provides excellent notes by Stephen Johnson and the recording is admirably clear with just the right balance between orchestra and soloist. Recommended to beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike but Curzon remains the unassailable peer in this repertoire.

Copyright © 2006, Gerald Fenech

Trumpet

© 1995-2022 Classical Net
Use of text, images, or any other copyrightable material contained in these pages, without the written permission of the copyright holder,
except as specified in the Copyright Notice, is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.