Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Robert Levin :: Mozart Piano Sonatas K. 279, K. 280, K. 281 on Fortepiano Vol. 1

Great New Mozart Series

Andrew J. Camacho | Hagatna, Guam USA | 08/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently purchased Robert Levin's CD of Mozart's first three piano sonatas and thoroughly enjoyed his performance. This recording uses a replica of a piano that was familiar to the composer. The sound of this piano is bright, clear, delicate, vibrant and powerful in forte passages. Levin's improvised embellishments make this CD extra special. Each repeat is played with added ornaments and cadenzas, a common practice in Mozart's time. Levin conveys the affect of Mozart's music beautifully. The fast movements are exuberant and rambunctious. The slow movements are tender and poignant.



I was surprised to find a bonus DVD that accompanied the CD. (No information about the DVD was presented in the description of the recording.) This video contains a "behind the scenes" look at the recording process, the character of the music, the different qualities of the Viennese piano compared to a modern piano, and a performance of the finale of K 279. I hope the subsequent volumes in the series have the same kind of DVD."

Great start for a series

Richard Einhorn | New York, NY | 09/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would agree with the reviewer below. Levin's performances are incredibly exciting. Amusingly, in some ways, his approach is closer to Gould's than either he or the late, great Glenn would care to admit. The secco touch, the unromantic phrasing, the intensity and rude fortissimi - this is not your grandma's Mozart. But to these ears, it sounds close to the real thing. As the kiddies used to say, this disc rocks.



The dvd extra is pretty good, esp. the full performance of an excerpt from k. 279. Aside from that the best parts are when Levin demonstrates the music or discusses the mechanisms of the piano and fortepiano. I also would have preferred if they had included scores to print out, as was done with Mutter's recording of the Beethoven Violin Sonatas.



BTW, the inclusion of a "free" dvd should give all consumers considerable insight into just how much of a profit the record companies were making off cd's until the advent of mp3."

How would Wolfgang have played these?

Eclect | Boulder, CO | 01/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These three sonatas, written when Mozart was still in his teens, are intended to be the first volume in a series that will explore the concurrent development of both Mozart's piano music and the instruments for which they were likely composed. Although Levin recorded these in his late 50s, one might well imagine that the 40-year-younger Mozart handled his own music similarly. If you are familiar with Levin's earlier recordings of Mozart concertos, you will not be too surprised at the result, but if your standard is smooth, unornamented performances on a modern piano, you will be forced to reject, to think, or possibly to do both. Levin's style is equally valid, but surely more authentic. If you haven't the slightest interest how it might have sounded in 1775, you will not wish to invest in this package.



The companion DVD is extremely useful to understanding what is going on. You may even wish to watch it before you listen to the music, but even if you enjoy the CD (as did I) be sure to take a look.



For the person who complained about wanting scores included also, anybody interested in this disc will want to know about the "Digital Mozart Edition" -- Amazon doesn't like URLs in its reviews, so just enter the above phrase in Google, and don't be put off by the German title -- there is an English-language interface on the site. Not only these three sonatas, but everything the man wrote."