Mozart: Piano Concerto 11 & 12

 

These two piano concertos are clear and untroubled works. I am also beginning to hear prime Mozart in this music as well.

Listen to how Mozart extends the cadences just ever-so longer; it is a technique I recognize from the Austrian master, and his application of it is so effective in building tension for the listener.

The banter between ensemble and piano continues apace, although in Piano Concerto no. 11 in F Major I don't care for the cuckoo imitation between performers. This is also a common trait with Mozart, but he does it more stylishly elsewhere.

In thais same concerto, I love the horn calls in the concluding movement, I believe first heard in the piano as opposed to the horns. I am finding Mozart's concluding movements increasingly appealing; they have such character and the composer avoids making them mere trifles, while still contrasting with a lighter emotional tone.

I receive a little more mileage out of Piano Concerto no. 12 in A Major in comparison. Perhaps it is its bright A-Major key, but I would hedge my bets on the culprit being the meaty core of its middle movement. Sure it is song-like, yet there is so much more to it. Mozart draws in the listener with its hymn-like opening, its delicate wind supports, and the gently rising musical ideas which ties it with the opening movement.

As to the recordings on hand, I like the stylish orchestral support from Sir Neville Marriner and the Stuttgart orchestra best. Jerzy Maksymiuk with the Polish Chamber Orchestra is noticeably less harsh sounding here than before with K246 & K271, or perhaps my ears have simply adjusted. My hopes are high for their continued efforts in K450.

Christian Zacharias is, as ever, a thoughtful performer in Mozart, one of many reasons I have chosen him to lead this blog's Mozart piano concertos entry. With K413, this recording is easily trumped by that from Geza Anda, who imbues power in a work which can be proffered as merely delicate. On the other hand, I could easily call Zacharias' K414 one of my favorites, only pulling back for Rudolf Serkin, who makes much, much more of the middle movement.

 

 

Works
Piano Concerto 11 in F Major, K. 413 (23.06)
Piano Concerto 12 in A Major, K. 414 (20.57)

Soloists
Christian Zacharias, piano

Performers
Polish Chamber Orchestra
    Jerzy Maksymiuk, conductor
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Sir Neville Marriner, conductor

Label: EMI
Year: 1982-92

 

 

 

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