Suggestions for a Mozart Piano Concerto

[dmc]

Yikes !  I've just been reading the infamous Breadboy thread for the first time (Chopin Fantassie-Impromptu).  It seems relative to this thread because of his remark about Mozart being easy.  Talk about controversy !

And speaking of Mozart...my teacher is encouraging me to pick a Mozart Piano Concerto to learn with him.  First a little background - I'm 50 years old, returning to the piano after about 12-13 years away.  I've had sporadic years of lessons (mix of jazz/classical) but lots of gaps in my background.  Since starting lessons about 5 weeks ago, I'm close to taming 2 Chopin Preludes (#13 & 21) and a Scarlatti Sonata (K 446).   I've also been playing with other pieces on my own time.  I told him one of my goals was to improve my sight reading with the aim of tackling bigger pieces down the road.  He's probably thinking that performing a PC as a duet will help push me that way.  Anyways I'm not familiar with all of the Mozart PCs but I have recordings of #9, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23 & 27 & love every one so I'm sure I'd enjoy them all.   I think he said that the later ones are more complex.  Now he didn't say to avoid those but I assume he'd want me to start with an early one which might be "easier" (I hate that word) to get my hands around (but I don't know for sure -- we will have to discuss).

So...what I'd apreciate from you folks is some input on what PCs I should look at.  Should I try one of the those I've listed above or would I be better off now with an earlier one.  If so which would you recommend for Mozart newbie ?

Sorry for the long expose  Just wanted to give you some idea where I'm at.   Many thanks in advance !

[schubertiad]

I recently had a little look at the a major sonata, K.488. Even though it's a late one, it is a lot easier technically than many of his early sonatas, but still has that 'late' mozart feel. I've heard it's often the first mozart concerto for many students. The slow movement is definitely sight readable, and should be fairly polished within a week or so of practice. I didn't look at the last movement, but it's a bit harder than the first.
Good luck!

[soliloquy]

Try No. 17 or 19.  They're some of the more interesting IMO.

[viking]

Seriously look at no.9 - it's such a great piece.

[retrouvailles]

Look at 17. It's probably my favorite of all 27 right now. It is definitely very interesting and not too bad. I recently saw Hamelin perform it, with his own cadenza in the second movement. Amazing piece, amazing performance.

[sharon_f]

Mozart wrote about Nos. 11, 12 & 13,  "These concertos are a happy medium between what is too easy and too difficult; they are very brilliant, pleasing to the ear, and natural, without being vapid. " Number 12, the "little" A major was one of the first concertos I learned many years ago and is very charming. That being said, of your list, #18 and #27 are two of my favorites. Learn the one you love the most.

[dmc]

Learn the one you love the most.

Ha !  Now thats going to be a tough one.  My two favorites I think are nos 18 (K 456 in B flat) and 20 (K 466 in D minor).  I love the 1st movement of 456 (allegro vivace) and the second movement (romance) of 466.  Maybe I'll just combine them 

Actually I saw on Itunes that Murray Perahia has recorded the entire PC cycle onto one CD.  So maybe I'll DL that & check out 11, 12 & 13.

Mind you I'm not trying to take the easy way out here.   I just have a healthy resppect for his music and don't want to take on something that might take me forever to do justice to.   Mozart (to me) is sneaky difficult.  His pieces are more stripped down (i.e. less layered) than say Beethoven or Chopin.  But when playing, any mistakes stick out like a sore thumb (two sore thumbs actually).  To me thats what makes him such a challenge.   You have to be almost perfect.

[invictious]

I like the one in F major, number 19. I feel that it is true essence of Mozart in there.

21 is a sad one, and it shows the inherently different side of Mozart, but you can still be sure it hell IS Mozart, his recognizable style.
hmph.

[cloches_de_geneve]

There are some exquisite early Mozart PC, such as 6, 8, 11, 12, 13. I think any of these might help you get your fingers (back) in shape. Of course, playing these is "easy" in some sense, if you comapre them to Feux Follets, Appassionata or even to Mozart's own PC such as 15, 20, or 24.

BUT, one should not be fooled: If there is uneveness in your articulation, problems with passage of the thumb, heaviness of touch, lack of flexibility and/or imagination in phrasing -- it's all going to be heard instantly; and any expert will know pretty quickly where you stand on the pianistic continuum. So I think any of these would be great.

PS: 16 is also a wonderful one -- played way too rarely, IMO.

[dmc]

If there is uneveness in your articulation, problems with passage of the thumb, heaviness of touch, lack of flexibility and/or imagination in phrasing -- it's all going to be heard instantly

Absolutely.  Thats what I meant when I said in my last post about having to be almost perfect when playing Mozart and what is so confounding about interpreting his works.  Thats also why I hate the word "easy" when discussing these things.  None of them are easy.  The challenges just differ from one composer/era to the next.

[cloches_de_geneve]

I like the one in F major, number 19. I feel that it is true essence of Mozart in there.

Curiously true, I think. In the sense that if I were to show someone who doesn't know Mozart's music how his music typically sounds like, 19 would be among my choices, probably along with 21 and 23.

[teresa_b]

Hi dmc,

I would go for the one you love the most--they are all difficult! 

For my 2-cents-worth, I have played the following, and I can give you my personal opinion on the difficulties:

No 9 (K271) in E-flat --Fabulous piece!!!  It is DIFFICULT.  The 3rd movement goes like the wind and is tricky in articulation, and the lovely minuet in the middle is deceptively tricky to get the prnaments and rhytms just right.

No 13 (K415)  in C major--easiest technically of this bunch, but I feel it is the least interesting.

No 14 (K449) in E-flat--fabulous, very unusual (not so quintessential Mozart)--short and sweet.  the 3rd movement is again tricky.

No 17 (K453)--my best pick for a starter.  This is one of the technically easier ones, and absolutely a masterpiece.  It is sublimely beautiful, all 3 movements.

No 19 (K459)--Love this one's 3rd movement, but the 1st mvt is a bit less interesting to learn, as it is a lot of triplet accompaniment to the orchestral melodies.  3rd movement is perhaps the most fun rondo of all, but watch out--fast and very light touch required!

No 23 (K488)--A good choice, not too difficult, except for some deceptively tricky stuff in 3rd mvt, esp. some arpeggios and LH work. 

Have fun!
Teresa

[dmc]

Thanks for all the great input everyone.  BTW, I forgot to ask - is there a preferred edition (i.e. publisher) for the Mozart PCs ?

[amelialw]

urtext or peters

[amelialw]

and if you want peter's edition, you should buy it off sheet music plus via regular mail, it's cheaper

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_fastresults.html?cart=340242980312363579

Baerenreiter-Ausgaben  is a really good edition but it's expensive

[invictious]

Thanks for all the great input everyone.  BTW, I forgot to ask - is there a preferred edition (i.e. publisher) for the Mozart PCs ?

For me, it's always the free ones, like the ones you find online

Too bad IMSLP is down...go to gamingforce.


If you want to spend cash, then Barenreiter-Ausgaben, as said above.

[amelialw]

you can get it for free here https://www.piano.ru/library-e.html