Mozart - Piano Concerto 20 [Schiff/ Vegh- Camerata Academica Des Mozarteums salzburg]
Probably my second favourite version of this Concerto, i seem to play this quite a lot, last appeared in my Blog in 2012 [30th September 2012], Andras Schiff is a great interpreter, and the Orchestra is somewhat of a chamber outfit, so you get a smaller feel for these works, probably more like what Mozart would have experienced in his day, plus Schiff plays a Bosendorfer i believe, a shade more toward what Mozart would play, rather than a Steinway, of course a pianforte 'original instuments' version it ain't, but Schiff gives you a feel for things, and i think good ole Wolfgang himself would have been pleased with the results.
Andras Schiff is Hungarian, he's now 61, he recorded this disc way back in 1989, i didn't realise this recording was that old, Schiff has recorded the full cycle of these Concertos, available in all sorts of packages, i love sampling individual discs, and i believe this is the best of the bunch, each of the front booklet covers show photography by Phil Sayer, showing Schiff i guess in Vienna?, with architecture in the background leaning, and low down shots with wonderful lighting, i love the blue theme throughout the cycle.
Well it the first movement Allegro that always gets me, it's Mozart's greatest Piano Concerto movement in my opinion, it's just so revolutionary, it has an incredible drive to it, it starts off quiet enough to begin with, but there's this undercurrent of unease and dread, a braying on the lower strings gives it a certain menace, and a sharp blast from the horns make you jolt upright! [0:28], i love this opening tutti from the orchestra, it's not a mere intro just to announce the piano, it's the music itself, the orchestra gets equal billing here, the piano also starts innocently enough [2:20], except for the fact it's in D Minor!, the same key for his Requiem [D for death as far as i'm concerned!], but of course the niceties are cast aside as the full force of the Minor key is exerted, the tension and knots it delivers are breathtaking, the way Mozart makes it all weave and thread together is masterly, i love the sound of the piano in this recording, the bass has a certain growling / rumbling tendency, very appropriate, i must admit Schiff can be a little too staccato and lumpy at times, a more delicate and flowing touch would have done better [Uchida?], i love the way that right after the cadenza, the orchestra come right back in with a jolt! [13:32], nicely knocks your socks off.
Here's Andras Schiff playing and conducting this Concerto on YouTube.
Andras Schiff is Hungarian, he's now 61, he recorded this disc way back in 1989, i didn't realise this recording was that old, Schiff has recorded the full cycle of these Concertos, available in all sorts of packages, i love sampling individual discs, and i believe this is the best of the bunch, each of the front booklet covers show photography by Phil Sayer, showing Schiff i guess in Vienna?, with architecture in the background leaning, and low down shots with wonderful lighting, i love the blue theme throughout the cycle.
Well it the first movement Allegro that always gets me, it's Mozart's greatest Piano Concerto movement in my opinion, it's just so revolutionary, it has an incredible drive to it, it starts off quiet enough to begin with, but there's this undercurrent of unease and dread, a braying on the lower strings gives it a certain menace, and a sharp blast from the horns make you jolt upright! [0:28], i love this opening tutti from the orchestra, it's not a mere intro just to announce the piano, it's the music itself, the orchestra gets equal billing here, the piano also starts innocently enough [2:20], except for the fact it's in D Minor!, the same key for his Requiem [D for death as far as i'm concerned!], but of course the niceties are cast aside as the full force of the Minor key is exerted, the tension and knots it delivers are breathtaking, the way Mozart makes it all weave and thread together is masterly, i love the sound of the piano in this recording, the bass has a certain growling / rumbling tendency, very appropriate, i must admit Schiff can be a little too staccato and lumpy at times, a more delicate and flowing touch would have done better [Uchida?], i love the way that right after the cadenza, the orchestra come right back in with a jolt! [13:32], nicely knocks your socks off.
Here's Andras Schiff playing and conducting this Concerto on YouTube.
