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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Daniel Barenboim - Mozart: Piano Sonatas (1991)
	Album details
	Label: Angel Records    Ref#: ?-0427 Date: 9/12/1991   Category:   Length: 0:00     Format: CD     Audio: Stereo     Genre:
Notes/Reviews
On the evidence of this 1985 collection, Daniel Barenboim sees Mozart's piano sonatas as works for the concert hall rather than the drawing room, and he treats them, in many cases, merely as opportunities for pianistic sport. To be sure, the virtuosic passages are very athletically done, but Barenboim's steely fingered and unsubtle approach deprives the music of much of its elegance and feline grace. For an idea of just how heavy the weather can get, listen to the opening of the C minor Fantasia, K. 475. The marking is forte, but Barenboim lands on the octave C's like a safe on a 10-story drop, detonating the B-flats and A-flats that follow as if he were negotiating one of Liszt's nastier potboilers. He does the same with the left-hand octaves in the "Piu Allegro," and so on to the end of the piece. As a demonstration of piano fortitude, it's impressive, but it doesn't sound much like Mozart--unless, of course, you like your Mozart on the strong side. The engineering gives lots of weight and presence to the piano, but several tracks also exhibit a "hot ground" hum (especially noticeable in the slow movements of K. 279, 280, and 284), which may indeed be disturbing for those who are listening on good equipment. For a more sensitive interpretation, you might consider Mitsuko Uchida's traversal, though it lacks the Barenboim set's bargain price tag. --Ted Libbey
Songs/Tracks
1.   I: Allegro   2.   II: Andante   3.   III: Allegro II   4.   I: Allegro Assai   5.   II: Adagio   6.   III: Presto   7.   I: Allegro   8.   II: Andante Amoroso   9.   III: Rondeau: Allegro   10.   I: Adagio   11.   II: Menuetto I & II   12.   III: Allegro   13.   I: Allegro   14.   II: Andante   15.   III: Presto   16.   I: Allegro   17.   II: Rondeau En Polonaise   18.   III: Thema Und Variationen   19.   I: Allegro Con Spirito   20.   II: Andante Un Poco Adagio   21.   III: Rondeau - Allegretto Grazioso   22.   I: Allegro Maestoso   23.   II: Andante Con Espressione   24.   III: Presto   25.   Allegro Con Spirito   26.   Andanta Con Espressione   27.   Rondeau: Allegro   28.   Allegro Moderato   29.   II: Andante cantabile   30.   III: Allegretto   31.   I: Andante Grazioso   32.   II: Menuetto Und Trio   33.   III: Alla Turca: Allegretto   34.   I: Allegro   35.   II: Adagio   36.   III: Allegro Assai   37.   I: Allegro   38.   II: Andante Cantabille   39.   Allegretto Grazioso   40.   Fantasie In C Minor, KV 475   41.   I: Molto Allegro   42.   II: Adagio   43.   III: Allegro Assai   44.   I: Allegro   45.   II: Andante   46.   III: Rondo: Allegretto   47.   I: Allegro   48.   II: Andante   49.   III: Rondo   50.   I: Allegro   51.   II: Adagio   52.   III: Allegretto   53.   I: Allegro   54.   II: Adagio   55.   III: Allegretto
Recording/Credits
Links/Resources
Lyrics

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