Please recommend some Mozart!

[fuel925]

I would like to incorporate some Mozart into my repetoire, but I don't really know anything about his keyboard works. Can someone please suggest some nice intermediate pieces for me to sink my teeth into. For an idea on difficulty, my current repetoire inclues some Chopin preludes (4,15,20 etc), Beethovens Pathetique sonata (mvmts 1+2), a couple of Bach inventions, and a prelude and fugue etc.

EDIT: I already know about Alla Turca, so no need to suggest that

[xvimbi]

I'd recommend taking a look at his sonatas. For an unusual one (for Mozart), check out K282.

[arensky]

BEWARE! Mozart is deceptively difficult. As Schnabel said, "Mozart is too easy for children and too difficult for adults!" So true... Some of the early Sonatas are not, well, so interesting(lightning strikes Arensky dead) FOR MOZART!! (Arensky is revived). Instead of listing the "good ones", I will list the ones that are not so interesting IMO. K.279, K.280. Well that was short! Three are perhaps overplayed, K.332 in F, K.333 in Bb and the infamous K.545. The Sonata K.331 of which Alla Turca is the last movement is really cool, but if you wish to avoid the Alla Turca I understand, it's played to death! Space and time constraints prohibit me from a blow by blow description of each Sonata, you should listen to them (de Larrocha has recorded them all and she's wonderful) or read through them and pick one you like. Also there's the Fantasies in d minor K. 397 and c minor K.475, Allegro in g minor K.312, Adagio in b minor K.540, Rondo in a minor K.511, Rondo in D Major K.? and lots of Theme and Variation pieces, including one on "Twinkle Little Star" that is VERY dificult, you wouldn't want to screw that up in front of anyone!
So there's lot's to pick from, obviously. BTW  Jan.27th 2006 is Wolfie's 250th birthday, there are festivals and celebrations everywhere on Earth; do join the party, he's great, maybe the greatest! Let me know what you settle on for your short list of candidates.

[arensky]

I'd recommend taking a look at his sonatas. For an unusual one (for Mozart), check out K282.

Yes, a great piece! I was going to do it on my next recital but it was hard to fit in, it's an odd but beautiful duck!

As long as we're all here, what's your favorite Mozart solo piece? Inquiring mind wants to know...

Mine is Rondo in a minor K.511

[pita bread]

Hmph... is the k282 high level enough for college auditions? It's nice and short, that's tempting.

[thierry13]

The requiem, or symphony in G minor.

[thierry13]

Or the only work by mozart that can emotionally touch me : fantasy in D minor.

[m]

The requiem, or symphony in G minor.

As well as many other Symphonies, Marriage of Figaro, Don Juan, Magic flute, and...

Oh wait a second... never mind.

[pita bread]

Or the only work by mozart that can emotionally touch me : fantasy in D minor.

I must concur with da Thierry for once.

[thierry13]

I must concur with da Thierry for once.

  

[kelly_kelly]

I like the Sonata K. 457 in C Minor (it goes with the Fantasy K. 475). And, by the way, the Rondo in D Major that Arensky suggested is K. 485. I like that rondo as well as the Rondo K. 511 (of which there is a good recording on this forum).

[arensky]

Hmph... is the k282 high level enough for college auditions? It's nice and short, that's tempting.

Well, it starts with a slow movment, followed by a double minuet, then a short but kicking finale.
Very unusual; I think it would be good if everything else you play is pretty demanding, like a Chopin Ballade or Scherzo or the equivalent and a challenging 20th century piece. Check it out, see what you think.

[pita bread]

The first mvt being slow stuck out to me a lot, kind of like the A major kv331. It's definately something "different" like the Fantasie in d minor.

[Bouter Boogie]

I would like to incorporate some Mozart into my repetoire, but I don't really know anything about his keyboard works. Can someone please suggest some nice intermediate pieces for me to sink my teeth into. For an idea on difficulty, my current repetoire inclues some Chopin preludes (4,15,20 etc), Beethovens Pathetique sonata (mvmts 1+2), a couple of Bach inventions, and a prelude and fugue etc.

EDIT: I already know about Alla Turca, so no need to suggest that

What about a piano concerto of Mozart? I play no. 17 in G major and it's not that hard

[xvimbi]

The first mvt being slow stuck out to me a lot, kind of like the A major kv331. It's definately something "different" like the Fantasie in d minor.

As mentioned earlier, don't be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this movement, but you already knew this about Mozart Every note has to be perfect; a little bit to much overlap, and you'll end up with unpleasant harmonies. Not enough and you will have gaps. And it all depends on the piano you are playing on as well. Phrasing is very challenging too. I have five recordings by excellent pianists, and the differences are very pronounced. It shows immediately who is in the top class (Brendel, Uchida), and who is second (Jando, de Larrocha). The fifth? Gould. Well, a league of his own, and not my taste at all. All that is of course my opinion. I find this piece immensely challenging in many ways.

[calihafan]

Um I hope I'm not late I just signed up for these forums.

Hmmkay. I'm not really a particularly advanced pianist (Right now I'm doing the Pathetique, Chopin's F-I, some chamber work, etc.), but I do love my Mozart. It is actually difficult music, kind of transparently difficult. It is extremely difficult to play well.

I've seen a few of these on this thread before but:

Mozart Sonata in c minor K 457. Also, the sister fantasy in c minor K 475. Those are really fun pieces. I like the third movement of the Sonata. The whole fantasy is great.

I don't know if you are talking about only solo music, but there is one great Mozart piece for four hands - the Adagio and Fugue in c minor K 546. That's what I'm doing right now and its a really cool piece of music. I don't much like fugues, but I like this one. I think that's about it. That I can think of off the top of my head at 10:40 at night.

Calih

[jehangircama]

What about a piano concerto of Mozart? I play no. 17 in G major and it's not that hard

 no.22 is also nice. and how tough exactly is that twinkle variation. i've just glanced through it at the moment but haven't started working at it. is it comparable to, say the italian concerto or beethoven's op10 no1?

[arensky]

no.22 is also nice. and how tough exactly is that twinkle variation. i've just glanced through it at the moment but haven't started working at it. is it comparable to, say the italian concerto or beethoven's op10 no1?

22 is my favorite! .  As for "twinkle" I don't thnk it's as hard note wise as either of those two pieces, but it's Mozart showing off, very tricky...closer to op.10 #1 I guess. It's margin of error is very slim; a mistake in this and everyone will know, even the children.

Let me know what you think after you've looked at it....

[jehangircama]

its tricky no doubting that. and as u said, kids will definitely realise a mistake in that one. i've got a decent CD of it. prob start work on it after two three pieces i was thinking of ...

[arensky]

its tricky no doubting that. and as u said, kids will definitely realise a mistake in that one. i've got a decent CD of it. prob start work on it after two three pieces i was thinking of ...

Kids will make fun but forgive, their parents are merciless! You are brave! I'm putting together  a mostly Mozart program for the spring, Sonata K.311 Fantasy K.457 Rondo K.511, but Twinkle Variations, no way!! Who plays on your CD?

[jehangircama]

its a naxos CD with Jeno Jando playing. its also got fantasia in C minor Kv475, sonata no.14 in C minor K.457, and Sonata no.11 K 331. Its a good recording.

[4tissimo]

I would highly recommend Mozart's Piano Concerto in A Maj., K. 488.  It may be too easy for you but I think it's one of his best.  Good luck.

[perfect_pitch]

Either Mozarts Piano Concerto in d minor No. 20, K466

or

Mozarts Piano Sonata in D K 5 something something... in 6 8 time....

[stevea]

I also recommend the Rondo in A minor, K. 511.  Kelly_kelly, where can I find the recording of this on the forum?

The Gigue in G major, K. 574 is also a fantastic, albeit extremely short, piece.  38 measures of speedy, ingenious, modernistic Mozart.

[arensky]

The Gigue in G major, K. 574 is also a fantastic, albeit extremely short, piece.  38 measures of speedy, ingenious, modernistic Mozart.

Yes, it's great! I forgot about it, thanks for the reminder! The perfect encore for my "mostly Mozart" happy birthday recital...

[burstroman]

My two favorite pieces by Mozart:  Rondo in a minor, the Gigue in G major.  Great music!

[kelly_kelly]

Here's the link to the recording of Rondo in A Minor.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11063.0.html

[stevea]

Thanks, Kelly...wow, that's a very nice recording. 

For a CD recording, I highly recommend Richard Goode's, simply titled, "Mozart".

[rockitman31]

Sure Rondo Alla Turca has been played to death.  But don't discount K331 as a whole.
I am finishing up the 1st and 2nd movements now and it is a beautiful sonata.
After playing the first 2 movements,  Rondo Alla Turca takes on new meaning and completes this sonata nicely.   
Like Pathetique,  a "must" in one's repetoire. 

[etudes]

fantasy in D minor
but no one mentioned K310 in a minor (3 movement sonata)i love it!
Grand opening very beautiful second and ending with short presto