The greatness of Mozart

I was surprised to find myself in agreement with the writer - at least for the first six or seven paragraphs, posted on December 4, 2016 at 11:42:26

Chris from Lafayette
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The ending of the essay (with its trite references to the ineffable, the miraculous, and the angelic - Ach, Mozart! How unworthy of you we mere mortals are!). . . not so much.

However, as I've mentioned before, I do think that it's one of the greatest tragedies in musical history that Mozart died a couple of days before the offer of the position at St. Stephen's was received in the mail by Constanze. Just think how many more Requiems or C-minor Masses we might have had!

RE: The greatness of Mozart, posted on December 5, 2016 at 01:58:35
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for sharing- JeffH

RE: The greatness of Mozart, posted on December 5, 2016 at 09:16:58

oldmkvi
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The thing about Mozart is that everything came to him fully-formed.
He never had to work anything out, like Beethoven or Mahler.
7 Years on one symphony?
It only took M as long as it took to write it down, and in INK.
So, is he really a Composer, or just a Vessel?
Stravinsky said, about the Rite, "I am the Vessel through which it passed," or words to that effect.
But he did have to re-orchestrate some places, and wrote several versions.
Mozart's Vessel never needed that!
One and Done.
Truly amazing.

True, EXCEPT for the C-Minor Piano Concerto (K. 491), posted on December 5, 2016 at 10:09:45
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26428 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	Lots of scriblings, re-writes and corrections on the manuscript - Mozart described this period in his life (when he wrote this concerto) as one where he was having "dark thoughts".

He was a randy South German trickster, and a wit., posted on December 5, 2016 at 11:20:16
Timbo in Oz Audiophile Posts: 23221 Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia Joined: January 30, 2002	This angelising of WAM pisses me off, too, Chris! Warmest Tim Bailey Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

RE: True, EXCEPT for the C-Minor Piano Concerto (K. 491), posted on December 5, 2016 at 14:22:56
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	Dark Thoughts-Sounds like Depression- Is there a Hi Res version you like?

I only have the CD of this analog recording. . . , posted on December 5, 2016 at 15:12:35

Chris from Lafayette
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. . . but it's available remastered onto SACD as a Japanese import - for the usual premium price.

I almost feel that SACD is overkill, given the merely OK SQ of the original recording.

I also like the old Rubinstein/Krips recording - not remastered onto any hi-rez medium AFAIK.

I'd take either of these older recordings in 60's analog sound in preference to the somewhat milque toast Helmchen recording on Pentatone in true hi-rez (you know you want it anyway - after all, the master is DSD!).

I know Uchida (whom I sometimes like) has a new series going on with the Cleveland Orchestra, but she hasn't gotten around to the C-minor Concerto yet. BTW, another great recording from the 60's is the Heidsieck/Vandernoot/Paris Conservatory Orchestra album, originally on Pathe/EMI. Heidsieck re-recorded this work much later (in the 90's?) with the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra under Hans Graf - I haven't heard this one, but I'm a great admirer of Heidsieck.

https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Piano-Concertos-Nos-20/dp/B004

That one's easily my favorite too., posted on December 6, 2016 at 07:05:41
rbolaw	Very hard to beat that Clara Haskil performance, even though she was in poor health and no doubt past her best at that point.

I've got egg on my face!, posted on December 6, 2016 at 10:31:23

Chris from Lafayette
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I mentioned that I hadn't heard the re-recording of the concerto by Heidsieck (i.e., the 90's one with Graf conducting - 1992 to be precise), but I actually DO have it, and I listened to the last movement last night. It's what some might call "interventionist" and not everybody is going to like it. For instance, in this last movement, he plays the very last variation which comes out of the cadenza in the same non-strict rhythm, cadenza-like style. His earlier (French Pathe / EMI) recording with Vandernoot from back in the 60's was more orthodox, although it nevertheless had a strong individuality to it, even within the more conventional framework. He's a great pianist IMHO, despite some misfires every now and then.

Uchida in Cleveland, posted on December 6, 2016 at 14:47:10

pbarach
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Hi Chris, actually Uchida/Cleveland Orchestra recordings of the Mozart concertos include Concertos 9 and 17-27 (but no 26). Most of them have more passion and involvement than the concertos she recorded with Tate, except unfortunately #20, which I found kind of hangdog and not at all energetic. All of the recordings were made in concert, and there is no audience noise. We did clap and shout "Brava!" a lot (I was in the hall for several of the concerts).

The most recent disc (17 and 25) is supposed to be the last one she'll record in Cleveland.

You're right - I was too hasty in checking!, posted on December 6, 2016 at 15:43:04
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26428 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	Looks as if I can download a CD-quality file at Presto Classical. Thanks for correcting my post and for your assessment of the performances!

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The greatness of Mozart

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