Mozart Piano Concerto No. 24 K.491

[ando]

I wasn't very familiar with this particular Mozart concerto, but I admire the pianist and ensemble. The orchestration initially impressed me far more than the soloist part and then I learned that Mozart hadn't actually completed writing the solo, apparently having planned to perform the part himself. It's a testament to his skills, if not confidence, as an improvisor and certainly puts the onus on the pianist who decides to tackle the piece.

Rafał Blechacz, piano
Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin
Kent Nagano, conductor

I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegretto

[ando]

Ah, a version where I can actually HEAR the first note! I don't believe Mozart meant to sneak in the back door with this concerto. Could it just be that the sound engineers were better than the usual recital hacks?

Ben Kim, piano
Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
Alexei Ogrintchouk, conductor

Queen Elizabeth Hall
Antwerp, Belgium

[ando]

The kid above is just too young or is simply afraid to take chances with interpretation (like the cadenzas) to make the concerto really dynamic - for my taste. Now, here we have a pianist who can't be much older giving a very idiosyncratic performance and the concerto is so much better for it (though not playful at all in the adagio). But it's my favorite of the live performances (so far) of this challenging piece. BRAVO. 

Martin James Bartlett, piano
London Mozart Players

14th June 2018
St John's Smith Square, London