Mozart - Piano Concertos 11-13 - Věrnerová-Pechočová, Pražák Quartet, Nejtek

Praga Digitals PRD/DSD 250 298
Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid
Classical - Chamber
MOZART - 3 Piano Concerti "A quattro" K.413, 414, 415
Slávka Věrnerová-Pechočová (piano)
Pražák Quartet
Pavel Nejtek (Double-bass)
This Viennese trilogy was neglected in the Romantic era then reduced to pianoforte chamber music under the Baroque revival. Often only KV 415 is played by C. Haskil, R. Serkin, A-B Michelangeli, M. Perahia, A. Schiff and M-J Pirès. Mozart produced scores with variable accompaniment back in 1781 to satisfy the Austrian Emperor’s court and private salons. The Pražák quartet plays here with a remarkable Czech pianist reminiscent of Ivan Moravec, proving its contemporary relevance.
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Review by John Broggio - October 22, 2013
Compared to Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 12-14 - Wallisch and most especially Mozart: Piano Concertos 11 & 12 - Fialkowska, Chamber Players of Canada, this comes off as a poor relation due to the double bass player seeming to have misread Bruckner for Mozart on his part and none of his colleagues or technical staff daring to rein him in.
The Fialkowska disc also employs a double bass but the subtlety and refinement that her colleague is far and away in a different class of playing. Pavel Netjek's "enthusiastic" response completely undermines the repose of both the Prazak Quartet and the soloist Slavka Pechocova-Vernerova. In terms of the pianism and the surety of both pacing & touch for the soloist and the quartet, Gilels' sublime account of Mozart's last concerto is recalled and at no time to the disadvantage of either. If only the same could be said for the double bass rendition that all too frequently jars completely with the delicacy of expression employed by the remaining five protagonists.
The recording lets us hear everything in a manner that is far too honest to make it enjoyable on repeated listening.
Very sadly not recommendable.
Copyright © 2013 John Broggio and HRAudio.net
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