Robert Levin, Christopher Hogwood - Mozart - Piano Concertos № 1, 2, 3 & 4 (KV 37, 39, 40 & 41) (2001)

Commonly called the "pasticcio concertos", these works date from 1767 and mostly consist of reworkings, arrangements, expansions, etc. of sonata movements by other composers (whose names will probably sound unfamiliar to most readers: Raupach, Honauer, Shobert, and even C. P. E. Bach), and their importance in Mozart's output, especially given the genius of his maturity concertos, is usually considered to be minimal; their overall atmosphere is a rather "style galant" one, and, as one might expect, quite a far call from the late Mozart. In spite of that, and in spite of Mozart being helped by his father Leopold in the arrangements, these concertos already show some of the young composer's qualities, especially in the sonata form developments (e. g. the minor modulations and some tone nuances which are absent in, let's say, C. P. E. Bach's concertos). Besides, they show an interesting chapter of the creation of the piano concerto as we know it (from its late Mozart and Beethoven archetypes). The (historically informed) performance by Robert Levin is outstandingly accurate and quite rightly centered on improvisation (the cadenzas are improvised, as are the embellishments); following documents about performances Mozart gave of these concertos, he plays on a harpsichord (Bavington modeled after a Goermans-Taskin) whose excellent sound can only be commended. As on most period performances, the harpsichord also gives a quasi-continuo role during the orchestral tuttis. As for the orchestra itself, Hogwood conducts his AAM with elegance, a great sense of colour, and most of all, a certain liveliness which (along with the soloist's talent) is probably the main element in this performance's success. (On a side note, I'd like to spend a few words to confute the anonymous reviewer from Austria: I do not agree with his views of Mozart as a piano composer, but that is a matter of personal taste, I guess; much more importantly, I dare praying the kind reader to consider the inconsistencies contained in his review, for as harpsichord keys are generally black, the term ivory is quite inappropriate to describe them. The very instrument he knows as piano is commonly called a harpsichord, clavecin, gravicembolo, etc.).