Complete Mozart Piano Sonatas

[zaba19]

I'd like to buy a set of Mozart's Piano Sonatas but I don't know who was a good interpreter of him. I love Maria-Joao Pires Chopin Nocturnes but don't know if she plays classical period equaly well. Or maybe Barenboim...? Please give me some advices.

[xvimbi]

I am not sure what you mean by "good interpreter". In any case, you've got quite a selection to choose from: Daniel Barenboim, Mitsuko Uchida, Alfred Brendel, Alicia De Larrocha, Glenn Gould, Lily Kraus, Elizabeth Rich, Maria João Pires, Ronald Brautigam, Ingrid Haebler,  Philippe Entremont, Jeno Jando, Klara Wurtz, Marta Deyanova, Michael Endres, Peter Katin, Gitti Pirner, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Homero Francesch, Tuija Hakkila, Georges Pludermacher. I probably forgot some. Some are on period instruments.

I haven't listened to all of them, but I personally like Uchida and Brendel and absolutely dislike Gould. It's great to just go out and compare them. There is so much variety in playing style, it's almost frightening and delightful what one can do with Mozart Sonatas. They are among the most difficult repertoire there is (IMHO).

[palika dunno]

don't buy them! you can download all of them played by andras schiff here : https://classic.manual.ru/Mozart/
schiff plays them really good. maybe there are better recordings but those are probably the cheapest 
but If u still want to buy them i would suggest brendel.

palika 

[mr david]

I am not sure what you mean by "good interpreter". In any case, you've got quite a selection to choose from: Daniel Barenboim, Mitsuko Uchida, Alfred Brendel, Alicia De Larrocha, Glenn Gould, Lily Kraus, Elizabeth Rich, Maria João Pires, Ronald Brautigam, Ingrid Haebler,  Philippe Entremont, Jeno Jando, Klara Wurtz, Marta Deyanova, Michael Endres, Peter Katin, Gitti Pirner, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Homero Francesch, Tuija Hakkila, Georges Pludermacher. I probably forgot some. Some are on period instruments.

Emphasis mine.

[sonatainfsharp]

I own two sets of Mozart Sonatas-- Gould and Maria Joa Pires.

The Gould is good for comic relief.

I like Maria Joa, but you have to be aware she recorded them TWICE.

Her ealier recordings are a bit outrageous and flashy, but her later records are extremely conservative and good for teaching examples. Kind of dull, but it is plenty to give you ideas and you can go from there.

[zaba19]

Thanks, I saw these 2 versions at some internet shop and wondered which one was better. Good to know that I shouldn't bother with the earlier recording.

[sharon_f]

I also like Uchida and Brendel. I would also add the set by Christoph Eschenbach. (Yes, the conductor.)

[arensky]

They are among the most difficult repertoire there is (IMHO).

You are right! Iwas going to give an all-Mozart solo recital to celebrate his 250th birthday BUT it got very frustrating, wanting to put my fist through the music stand, etc. Moz will fry your nerves to a crisp; I have taken the Moz off my spring concert and have replaced him with Beethoven's "Tempest" Sonata in d minor, still very difficult but there's lot's of rich meaty material to wallow in, playing Mozart is like being on a tightrope, and I'm not into being on a tightrope for 75 minutes right now. Filling in the rest of the recital with Scarlatti (on the high wire for only 10 minutes that's OK) Ravel and Chopin or Liszt...

I will say Happy Birthday to the Moz with 2 performances of Concerto #24 in C minor K.491!  

Oh, the original question... I like de Larrocha best for Mozart, but this an emotional not a logical choice, she is so wonderful. Also Barenboim, Horszowski (heard him in Carnegie Hall when he was 94   playing Concerto #19 in F Major, very beautiful) Uchida and Kraus are all excellent.

[arensky]

Christoph Eschenbach.

oops forgot him, a grievous oversight he is an OUTSTANDING pianist.....

[practicingnow]

Mozart is like being on a tightrope, and I'm not into being on a tightrope for 75 minutes right now.

Well put

[luc]

don't buy them! you can download all of them played by andras schiff here : https://classic.manual.ru/Mozart/
schiff plays them really good. maybe there are better recordings but those are probably the cheapest 
but If u still want to buy them i would suggest brendel.

palika 

Omg, what does he do to nr. 11? He only plays three variations instead of six.
and.. that adagio is way too presto ^^


Well, okay, that's MY opinion..

[xvimbi]

Omg, what does he do to nr. 11? He only plays three variations instead of six.
and.. that adagio is way too presto ^^


Well, okay, that's MY opinion..

It is also quite interesting to hear what he does with the repeats. He liberally puts in ornaments. They often work quite well, but often not so well (IMO). That's why I used the words "frightening" and "delightful" in my earlier post. Schiff is a good example for that.

[la_leggierezza]

Claudio Arrau, Maria João Pires and Glenn Gould.

[serge1paris]

I just wonder if Maria Joao Pires did'nt record three versions because your comments don't fit with the first version I know. 
Anyway, there is one version recorded in Tokyo in 1974 for Denon and the last one with DG.
The one recorded in Tokyo has just been reissued by Brilliant at a very cheap price (20 euros the whole set).  There is nothing outrageous and flashy about it. It is an excellent version indeed with nice measured tempos and superb sound (not a single fortissimo). This version is perfect for studying.

I have the Baremboim set too which is good and the Lili Kraus set which I dont don't care for very much ( fast and brutal).

I heard some sonatas by Alicia de Larrocha and liked them.

All the best

Serge

[Motrax]

Alicia De Larrocha does a fantastic job with all of them. I'd recommend that.

[arensky]

Alicia De Larrocha does a fantastic job with all of them. I'd recommend that.

Yes!!!

[arensky]

 the Lili Kraus set which I dont don't care for very much ( fast and brutal).

I heard some sonatas by Alicia de Larrocha and liked them.

Of course you like Alicia, she is so wonderful! 

I think the Lili Kraus set suffers from a bad piano or acoustic in the hall or studio. Yes she is forceful at times, but it's a different take on the Moz, very interesting imo. I think it's pretty good...but not like Alicia, who is sublime...

[sonatainfsharp]

I just wonder if Maria Joao Pires did'nt record three versions because your comments don't fit with the first version I know.

She may have recorded a complete set twice and some other multiple times, perhaps?

[bachisdashit]

skip mitsuko uchida, her playing sucks...
i have the complete sonatas played by christoph eschenbach, and its pretty good
horowitz's mozart is great though, too bad he didn't record all the mozart sonatas.

[xvimbi]

skip mitsuko uchida, her playing sucks...
i have the complete sonatas played by christoph eschenbach, and its pretty good
horowitz's mozart is great though, too bad he didn't record all the mozart sonatas.

Tell me, do you generally expect this and all of your other statements to be taken as seriously as your nickname?

[stevie]

well i agree with him, horowitz's mozart is my favourite

[xvimbi]

well i agree with him, horowitz's mozart is my favourite

Who "him"? Do you mean "her"?

[contrapunctus]

Who "him"? Do you mean "her"?

Him can be correctly used as either refering to a man or woman.

[bachisdashit]

Tell me, do you generally expect this and all of your other statements to be taken as seriously as your nickname?

uh....excuse me it was just a helpful comment. no need to get all bitchy 

[xvimbi]

uh....excuse me it was just a helpful comment. no need to get all bitchy 

It wasn't meant to be bitchy at all. You seem to be new here. In my experience, members with nicknames like that are often here to provoke or cause trouble. However, sometimes it's just their nickname that raises eyebrows, their contributions are often quite useful. I just wanted to spare me the trouble to slowly find out over time, so I thought I'd ask.

So, then, would you care to elaborate what you mean with "sucks"?

[phil13]

Lily Kraus all the way... I especially like what she did with K.311 (D maj) and K.457 (C min)

Phil

[bernhard]

Malcolm Bilson

[sonatainfsharp]

Tell me, do you generally expect this and all of your other statements to be taken as seriously as your nickname?

Actually, I have yet to be impressed by any of Uchida's recordings, either, but I wouldn't have described them in the same way. I can't put my finger on it, though.

[arensky]

Lily Kraus all the way... I especially like what she did with K.311 (D maj) and K.457 (C min)

Phil

I like her 311 too, it has good propulsive energy, and a lovely singing line in the middle movement...

[arensky]

Malcolm Bilson

He is great, saw him do some of the Concerti on his fortepiano at Tanglewood...he's great! 

[zaba19]

Thank you all for the replies. It seems that everyone has his favourite and there isn't a straight answer I think I'll go to a shop, listen to some of the mentioned recordings and then buy the one I like the most.