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Mozart for 3 - 2 - 1 fortepianos - Zilm

Mozart for 3 - 2 - 1 fortepianos - Zilm

Polskie Radio  PR SACD 014

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Mozart: Concerto for 3 fortepianos and orchestra in F major K.242, Concerto for 2 fortepianos and orchestra in E flat major K.365, Concerto for fortepiano and orchestra in E flat major K.449

Jaroslaw Drzewiecki, Tatiana Shebanova, Stanislaw Drzewiecki (fortepiano)
Sinfonia Varsovia
Michael Zilm (conductor)

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Review by John Broggio - July 3, 2006

This is my first exploration into Polskie Radio's commercial releases of recorded music and very enjoyable it has been too. First, it needs to be made clear that the fortepiano's are Polish for piano; this is no period instrument disc!

The concerto that opens the disc is the F major for three pianos (understandably rarely heard in the concert hall) and features the constant pianist in the proceedings, Stanislaw Drzewlecki and his fellow artists Tatiana Shebanova (who also participates in the double concerto) & Jaroslaw Drzewlecki. The performance is completely unmannered, which is nice when so many "big names" feel the need to pull the music about. This is undoubtedly a "modern/old-fashioned" performance depending on how you view HIP but without many of the negative characteristics that plagued it from grander names. Incidentally, the pianos are incredibly well tuned with one another.

In the double concerto, this immediately falls into competition with the Gilels' (father & daughter) on DG which (for "old school" Mozart) is an absolute joy to ear. Here Drzewlecki & Shebanova are more direct and try less to beautify every note (not that they are rough in any way with the music). Ultimately, they are not quite as refined as Gilels, VPO & Bohm but one might prefer the more lively presentation of the faster movements. It must be counted to their advantage that the pianos are better balanced with each other and the orchestra than in the older account on DG (there are moments of strange tone colours due to minor imperfections between the two pianos).

Lastly, Drzewlecki is given his own vehicle to display his estimable talents - the 14th concerto in E flat. Just as before, the playing is cultured but un-mannered. Throughout this concerto and also the others, the Sinfonia Varsovia and Michael Zilm accompany the soloists with a clear tone (a little too thin for some in the strings) and delightful interplay between the pianists and the woodwind.

The recording is fine and nicely balanced between orchestra and soloists. The locations of the piano's are not individually identifiable but the lines are clearly audible, as are all the felicities of Mozart's orchestration.

(Purchased)

Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

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