Track Listing

1. Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Allegro assai
4. Allegro
5. Larghetto
6. Allegretto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #94843 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-19
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Goode and Orpheus are taking their collective time recording Mozart's piano concertos, which is probably a good thing, in view of the results. Both of these performances, of extremely familiar works, benefit from intense concentration and fresh approaches. Goode appropriately stresses the lyrical side of No. 23, and even essays a bit of mild embellishment in the beautifully played slow movement. No. 24, the famous C-minor concerto, is played with Beethovenian gruffness and power, moving the music into the 19th century. The modesty of Robert Levin's fortepiano recordings seems more like what Mozart expected to hear. But as more forward-looking performances go, these splendid readings are the equal of the much-praised Uchida/Tate versions. Not only is the lack of a conductor no detriment, but the individuality and expressiveness of the orchestral lines here are remarkable. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Mozart!
This is my first time hearing pianist Richard Goode and the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble in a recording of the Mozart Piano Concertos. In a word, they are outstanding.

I have recordings of these two concertos by Brendel/Marriner, Curzon/Kertesz, Ashkenazy (Philharmonia Orchestra), Howard Shelley (London Mozart Players), Barenboim (Berlin Philharmonic), not to mention other pianists whose recordings I have of Concerto no.23, but not 24, or vice versa.

Performancewise, Richard Goode can be very lyrical one moment, poetic the next. His runs are sparkling, his pianissimos very delicate. The Orpheus Chamber Ensemble is superb. If I didn't have so many recordings of the Mozart Piano Concertos, I'd be going out to get the other Goode/Orpheus Chamber Ensemble recordings; that is how impressed I am by their playing and this recording. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that possibly Howard Shelley's Mozart playing is the most poetic of those I have, but Richard Goode is right up there.

Good, clear sound.

Better than Goode
Easily the finest interpretation of these two works on CD, as a quick audition will reveal. Such unanimity of thought, such fresh phrasing make this an inspirational experience not to be missed. No problems with the sound at all, a very natural acoustic with a life-like string sound adding to my pleasure of this release, a favourite CD.

Elite Performance -- Not a Very Good Recording
I'll make this short & simple. I like the performance, but have a hard time getting past the sound. For some reason the violin sound is completely lacking in the high frequencies. The piano sounds fine, however. I suspect that there was a lot of spotlighting with the microphone placement, and that the violins were recorded too closely. Other recordings I have of various Mozart piano concertos are with Brendel/Marriner, Brendel/Mackerras, O'Conor/Mackerras, Uchida/Tate, Schiff/Vegh. I consider them all the be very fine performances. As far as sound goes, the Goode/Orpheus and Uchida/Tate are my least favorite recordings. The playing by the Orpheus CO is top notch.