Tag: Christian Zacharias

Title: Christian Zacharias – W.A. Mozart Piano Concertos Vol.5 (2009)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Midem Classique Award winner Christian Zacharias continues his survey of Mozart Piano Concertos as both performer & conductor. Featuring arguably 1 of the most famous, the A Major. MDG’s complete recording of Mozart’s piano compositions with Christian Zacharias in the double role as pianist & conductor of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra continues with KV 488, certainly the most-performed piano concerto by the great Salzburg composer, complemented here by KV 246 & KV 175, Mozart’s very 1st piano concerto. Mozart himself regarded his 1st piano concerto of December 1773 as a gem. Five years later he continued to enjoy great success with it in Mannheim “because here it pleases quite well,” as he proudly reported to his father. Even at his Vienna academies of 1782-83 the concerto still figured significantly for him. When he sent its new finale, the Rondo (KV 382), to his father, he wrote, “I made it especially for me, & nobody but my dear sister can play it after me.”

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Title: Christian Zacharias – W.A. Mozart Piano Concertos Vol.4 (2009)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This volume in the series seems to have taken a step up, with playing which previously might have been a little cosy now edgier & with more contrast in light & shade. The overall ensemble is excellent, & these are very good Mozart concerto interpretations indeed. Sound quality is up to MDG’s usual high standard, with a well-scaled ambience in Mch, & the 2+2+2 channel setup with height channels works fine in my 5.1 setup, despite my not reassigning the centre & sub speaker.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Christian Zacharias – W.A. Mozart Piano Concertos Vol.3 (2008)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

In this 3rd volume, Zacharias’ Mozart becomes essential, if not quintessential, in a universe for piano & concerto that is fascinating. The Concerto for Piano & Orchestra #17 in G major KV 453 dates from 1784, & inspired the musician Alfred Einstein to say: “In a friendly key are hidden many mysterious smiles & painful wounds – words cannot be found to describe the permanent irisation of feelings in the 1st movement, the passionate interiority of the 2nd.” The Concerto for Piano & Orchestra #19 in F major KV 459 was also composed in 1784 right after “the 4th of the 6 Quartets dedicated to Haydn”, states Mihel Parouty. Three days after finishing it on December 14, Mozart became a Freemason. Leading from the piano the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne to heights of subtlety, Christian Zacharias brings out a thousand colors from these eternal scores. With exemplary phrasing he opens the doors to a world that is often approached but rarely captured with such intelligence. It is true that Zacharias’ Mozart is rarely flamboyant, but he brings forth unique beauty that only the deaf cannot hear. He allows his musical discourse to breathe, a reminder of days when music had universal meaning. This is a Super Audio CD that eclipses all others.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Christian Zacharias – W.A. Mozart Piano Concertos Vol.2 (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Will listeners raised on virtuoso performances of Mozart’s piano concertos be able to make room in the hearts for Christian Zacharias’ recordings with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne? It depends on how willing they are to forego the pleasures of virtuosity for the pleasures music-making. This is not to say that Zacharias isn’t a virtuoso pianist. As his 20 years of recordings make very clear, he has talents & abilities far beyond those of most mortal pianists. But it is to say that, as those recordings make equally clear, Zacharias is far more interested in music-making than he is in virtuosity. As both pianist & conductor here, Zacharias leads performances which are all about sympathetic interplay, about musicians listening to each other, about the meaning behind the notes & the joy inside the notes. The Lausanne musicians respond joyfully to Zacharias’ direction, playing with him & not for him & breathing life into every line & sonority. While listeners raised on virtuoso performances may find something lacking, those listeners who value playing together more than showing off will find much to enjoy.

hraudio | discogs

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Title: Christian Zacharias – W.A. Mozart Piano Concertos Vol.1 (2003
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Not just because this disk is the only 1 in the series without a review on this site, but also because it concerns a re-issue in SACD format, I thought it might be useful to share my views with the Super Audio community. To start with the end: My verdict is a wholehearted positive 1 in both artistic & technical sense. Although Mr. Zacharias’ playing hardly needs any further praise (in its CD format Vol. 1 has been widely lauded in various critics’ circles) I would nonetheless like to reassure potential buyers & lovers of an unadulturated Mozart that it is his stylistic & delicate playing that constitutes the best part of this disc. Mozart is not the kind of composer requiring key-bangers (no offence meant!). His piano concertos are best served by non-glamorous, non-virtuoso & non-eccentric, natural players, who understand the ingenious ‘simplicity’ of which Mozart seems to hold the secret. This is what we hear in this re-issued 1st installment of the (then) intended full cycle of the 27 concertos for piano & orchestra (with the obvious omission of the early concertos, wrongly or correctly attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus M. as well as, so far, those for 2&3 pianos).

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