Cheap Mozart: The Piano Sonatas (Music) (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mitsuko Uchida) Price

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Customer Reviews of Mozart: The Piano Sonatas

You certainly can use the CD to guide your piano studies, but I disagree with the performance as any more than technical execution, as good as my PC reading a MIDI score. And yes, I do play some of the Mozart sonatas.

The Uchida recording is lifeless, with the sound dry and dull. Has it been remastered? It sounds like there is only one range on her playing here, fortepiano. Its devoid of personality, I guess that's on purpose?

As the internet makes musical snippets available, I'd suggest you contrast her performances against many out there who are definitely unlike this intepretation, such as Barenboim or Landowska. And before one considers there is but one way to play Mozart listen to Hess, Horszowski, Fisher, Gieseking and others. There are many ways to play well.

Great recordings
I completely agree with the assessments about Ms. Uchida's interpretation of Mozart's sonata pieces by other reviewers found elsewhere in this section. But I'd like to comment on two rather mundane issues. First, if you have children taking piano lessons, this is an efficient and economical way to introduce them to Mozart's sonatas. You can then purchase the sonatas collection (by Schirmer's at sheetmusicplus.com) so your child can have the music sheets and the audio to appreciate at least one style of expression for these sonatas. Second, this set of CD's can also be bought at bmgmusic.com for about $14 and change, plus shipping charges (another $10 and change).

Beautiful Music for Everyday Life. Stunning Playing!
Believe it or not, I own the gigantic Complete Mozart Collection by Phillips. I bought it soon after it was released a decade ago. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I should have spent the money on something else, but then I would not have been exposed to all of Mozart's amazing piano pieces.

I am most grateful to have these piano sonatas in my life. Mitsuko Uchida's interpretation is just astonishing. Her touch, timing and feeling is just impacting. It's like falling in love with the most beautiful person in the world. If you play these while driving your car, don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting in your car after you have parked to hear a piece all the way to the finish, and almost feeling your heart pounding with emotion.

Some of the later sonatas are absolutely stunning.

Indeed, this collection was given the highest rating possible and the rare rosette designation from the Penguin Guide to Classical Music.

From my perspective, Mozart's piano works for solo or smaller ensembles (sonatas, variation, trios, etc.) represent nearly his finest works. Experts rank his concertos, symphonies and operas (all with large ensembles) as his greatest works, but my experience is that his piano works for smaller ensembles and solo are masterpieces on their own. I have been listening to Mozart's complete works for a decade, and I personally enjoy his piano works the most for my own listening pleasure.

I also very highly recommend the MOZART: PIANO VARIATIONS collection. Very highly! The piano trios and piano quartets are great, too.

I think it's very sad that these Mozart pieces are not so well known. They are masterpieces of great beauty.

I remember one time when I told a friend's wife about these Mozart piano recordings. Her father was a professional concert pianist, and she plays piano really well. She owns two excellent pianos - one grand and one upright. I told her about these recordings, and she said she did not care much for Mozart piano pieces - she did not know much about Mozart - and that Beethoven was her favorite.

So I made her a couple tape recordings of some of the Mozart sonatas and variations (I now know I am not suppose to do that, but my intention was more educational and not piracy), and a month later she told me she was completely blown away. Several years later I ran into her, and she said she was still listening to Mozart on piano and was so grateful for introducing Mozart piano works into her life. Mozart is now, by far, her favorite.

I wish everyone could enjoy them.