Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra :: Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 27

The best of two discs on one

Jon. Yungkans | Whittier, CA USA | 05/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The mid-price disc of Nos. 20 and 21 David Hurwitz mentioned in his commentary is apparently no longer available at Amazon. Neither is the full-price disc of 27 and 8 -- a shame since the performance of No. 8 was first-rate. But the pairing here, though at full-price, is extremely worthwhile.



What I wrote about No. 21 in my review of Serkin and Abbado's 21 and 23 holds true for 21 and 27. Pacing is slower than normal but the gains in tenderness, poetry and articulation more than make up for it. Serkin continually finds more half-lights and shadows of subtext in his interpretations, showing not only a lifetime of immersion in these scores but also a freshness of mind and sensitivity of spirit that give the composer his full due and touch the listener's heart in the process. Gilels and Bohm pace their version of 27 very similarly but they seem stodgy in comparison. No. 21 was the better performance of the two on the 21/23 disc and is shown to much better advantage followed by 27.



As for the absent No. 20, it is still available in its original incarnation with No. 12 and in another full-price re-pairing with No. 16. Either disc is worth having, as 12 and 16 are among the better Serkin/Abbado performances in their cycle.

"

Pretty lifeless

Jon. Yungkans | 07/19/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Just to counter the other reviewers, I must say that I find this performance to have a deadening effect on me, and I have listened to it several times. The tempos are on the slow side, and the chance taking is nil, as is any sense of passion. I am a big fan of Rudolf Serkin's playing, usually finding it passionate and spiritual, but, perhaps due to his age when this recording was made, I find these qualities lacking here. Of course, everything is competently played, but that is all the good I can say about it. I am sorry I purchased this recording, and do not recommend it."

Great reading of this wonderful piano concerto

Blygman | Paris, France | 02/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stange as it may seems, considering the bad critics that I have read about this interpretation (Penguin & Amazon.com), I love this recording. The way Rudolf Serkin plays the piano is simply delightful, so refined and yet so full of life. I know every single stroke from start to end. I could listen to it for hours on end. The orchestra seems to integrate perfectly with Serkin's piano. Perfect !"