6 of 6 recommend this SA-CD
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Label:
   Artemis Classics - http://www.vanguardclassics.com/
Serial:
   1587-2
Title:
   Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 9 & 14 - Brendel/Janigro
Description:
   Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat major K 271 "Jeunehomme", Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major K 449

Alfred Brendel (piano)
I Solisti di Zagreb
Antonio Janigro (conductor)
Details:
  
Genre:
   Classical - Orchestral
Content:
   Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
   Hybrid
Recording type:
   Analogue
Recording info:
   Recorded 1965, in Palais Schonburg, Vienna, Austria
SACD Producer and Engineer: David Baker
SACD Master Engineer: Jen Wyler
SACD Authoring Engineer: Woody Porupitaksuk
SACD Remastering completed at Sony Master Studios, June 2004
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Related titles: 3
 
Reviews: 1
Review by Jonalogic October 22, 2010 (7 of 11 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics (S):
This is another fine Vanguard/Artemis recording which, mysteriously, has yet to be reviewed. Why? It's Brendel, for heaven's sake!

This is a real find. For those that truly love the Mozart piano concertos, these two concerti are amongst the finest of his middle-period works in this genre. The K217 (Jeunehomme) in particular, is an early masterpiece, foreshadowing in its depth and profundity some of Mozart's greatest later masterpieces in this form.

Brendel, in his later photographs (poor man) always wore a distressed, manic grimace, as if his cat had just been run over by a steamroller. In 1965 however, when this recording was made, he seems more carefree; there is almost a hint of an enigmatic smile in his photo...

Whether that is my imagination or not, his playing on this pieces is carefree and a joy throughout. The accompanying Zagreb soloists are extrovert and exuberant, matching and supporting Brendel's fine playing.

Big-band Mozart this may be, with a concert grand and a modern orchestra, but - frankly - I just love it. OK, shoot me for heresy.

I haven't mentioned the sound yet. It's heavenly analogue, with a liquid, limpid piano, fine strings, excellent focus and dimensionality. My only slight quibble is that the wind and brass sound a tad recessed. No matter, the overall sound is sufficiently transparent to carry this.

In conclusion, this is a no-brainer. Get it whilst you still can.

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Works: 2  
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major, K. 449
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat major, K. 271 "Jeunehomme"