Track Listing

1. Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453: Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453: Andante
3. Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453: Allegretto
4. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ('Elvira Madigan') K. 467: Allegro maestoso
5. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ('Elvira Madigan') K. 467: Andante
6. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ('Elvira Madigan') K. 467: Allegro vivace assai

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #321245 in Music
• Released on: 1996-06-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

Great performance for these underrated concertos
As usual with Pires, her hyper-crystalline tones make this recording outstanding.

In some recordings she tends to sound a little bit intimidated, but here there is no such a problem. She sounds extrovert and fresh whenever she needs to be in these uplifting concertos.

Superbly recorded sound is also a big plus.

Incredible Perfection !!!
I am an amateur pianist who has been studying classical music for over 15 years. I deeply enjoy and admire Mozart's works. To me, he is the greatest genius that ever existed on Earth. I have been studying piano concerto #21 for a few months, and have purchased many different recordings by the most renowned performers (more than 10) during this time.

If you are planning on getting this piano concerto, believe me, this is THE recording you MUST buy. I currently own more than 500 classical music CDs and this one is definitely on the top 1% of the list - it is a genuine jewel.

The things that I particularly like about this recording is: Sound quality is excellent; Maestro Rudolf Serkin's cadenzas performed here by Mrs. Pires are the most beautiful I have ever heard for this concert; and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Claudio Abbado sounds extremely rich, very well balanced.

To those of you who are not familiar with Mrs. Pires, let me assure you that she is an excellent interpreter of the works of Mozart, Chopin and Bach, among others. To me, she is among the very best. As I see it, her hands are a true gift from God to humanity. Mozart would definitely be more than pleased with this performance!

Piano Concerto #17 performance was very well described in the review below. Being a live recording it has an exceptional merit. It is also exquisitely performed.

So... Get this recording! I assure you that you will not be disappointed!

Powerful artistic conviction!
Joao Maria Pires is nowadays, the supreme female pianist in the sublime art of playing Mozart. Because although she is far from the superior vision of Clara Haskil, for instance, she plays with an artistic conviction that may be noticed from the first bar, her spiritual affinity has joined with an overriding goal to capture with mind and heart the essential nuances of the beloved Salzburg's son. It's not an easy fact she has achieved this envied place. There are superb and majuscule pianist all over the world, but the difference that makes the difference is the quality of sound, between incorporeal and evanescent that remarks the sumptuous lyricism we always find in Mozart.

This successful meeting between Pires and Abbado has allowed us to appreciate that majestic vitality, radiant intonation and athletic fingering some of her most important qualities.