Hey AKers,

I know that there are many of you who are into classical music so this question is for you. I would like to pick up a copy of Mozart's Piano Concerto 22 In E Flat, K. 482 on vinyl but I'm not sure what are good labels and not so good ones. I assume DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON is a good one (?). Are European pressings better than American ones? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Do you realize what a giant topic this is?

Guys debate every pressing of every artist on every label.

Are you lookiing for sound quality, record quality, or performance quality? They don't always go together.

In my opinion, it is most important to get a good performance, in a performing style you like.

Now that I look at it, you're right. I'll limit it down to performance/sound quality. The reason I started this topic is that they sell those classical $5.99 CDs that sound crappy and I just don't want that sound/performance quality from an LP. I was just hoping to get some recommendations but I see your point. Thanks!

I have never been disappointed with a DG recording...

I have never been disappointed with a DG recording...

Thanks! I'll look at that pressing then.

Then look for the DG recording by Geza Anda (pianist and conductor). My 1970
catalog lists it under number 138 824, but there may have been later LP issues
on different numbers.

The recording by Alfred Brendel on Philips is also famous both for performance
and sound (sorry I don't have the number on hand).

It looks to me like the pickings for this particular concerto are rather slim.

There's no Curzon, no Richter, no Kempff, no Pollini.

Maybe that explains why, although I have many Mozart piano concerto records, I have nothing for this one.

The Uchida/Tate might be interesting, but the Philips digital LP would be quite expensive.

It looks to me like the pickings for this particular concerto are rather slim.

There's no Curzon, no Richter, no Kempff, no Pollini.

Maybe that explains why, although I have many Mozart piano concerto records, I have nothing for this one.

The Uchida/Tate might be interesting, but the Philips digital LP would be quite expensive.

Who would want to buy a digital LP that was produced by running the
digital source recording through a high quality D/A converter and sending
the analog output to a perishable analog medium when you can buy
a CD and reproduce the same conversion in your home without all the
hassle? I am not speaking against the LP medium, I just don't see the
interest of using it to store digital recordings. Just my two cents' worth.

Returning to the Mozart concerto topic, the two pianists I mentioned seem
entirely satisfactory to me, and there are more: Barenboim on EMI,
Annie Fischer (cond. W. Sawallisch) also on EMI, Ashkenazy on Decca.
And that's just from browsing my CD collection, ther must be other
worthwhile ones.

It's true that there are not that many recordings of this work, but I'm
sure ranf1970 can find something to his taste.

Check this link

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sealed-LP-Mozart-Cocerto-No-22-in-E-Flat-K-482-1983-EMI_W0QQitemZ220246818577QQihZ012QQcategoryZ306QQr dZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q 2em118Q2el1247

or Ebay item 220246818577

P.S.: I have so many CDs that I had not realized I have this recording on hand, coupled with the
Beethoven 3 (and stored as a Beethoven recording). It was made in 1979. I will listen to it and
get back to you.

Thanks for all your input! I also found this recommendation on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=170196887878 electroking. I'm not sure if this is a reputable dealer or not since they don't post the cover. Thanks for looking out and I have the LP on my watch list! :yes:

I would recommend Perahia or my favorite, Brendel for any of the Mozart concerto's on record. Especially on the Philips label.

While on the topic of Piano Concerto's, which piano concerto from any composer on record would you consider to be the best recorded performance you own?

Mine just happens to be Mozart:

Mozart, Nos. 18 & 27, Brendel, ASMF, Marriner, Philips-Classics 412 931.

This recording is just perfect.

I would recommend Perahia or my favorite, Brendel for any of the Mozart concerto's on record. Especially on the Philips label.

While on the topic of Piano Concerto's, which piano concerto from any composer on record would you consider to be the best recorded performance you own?

Mine just happens to be Mozart:

Mozart, Nos. 18 & 27, Brendel, ASMF, Marriner, Philips-Classics 412 931.

This recording is just perfect.

Yes Brendel is really excellent. I have K. 482 on a two-CD set (442571-2).
A pity he did not record all the concertos with Marriner, although the latter
set and its companion (442269-2) form a great Mozart anthology.

This is a link on an available LP of the same recording; any comments
on quality for our friend ranf1970?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PHILIPS-BRENDEL-PLAYS-MOZART-PIANO-CON-382-386-482_W0QQitemZ310072651687QQihZ021QQcategoryZ306QQr dZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q 2em118Q2el1247

To answer your question, I would have to say the 1966 recording
of Beethoven's 5th concerto by Glenn Gould and Stokowski

Thanks once again to electroking and Zinfan for your recommendations! I have Brendel's LP on my list now. I'm looking forward to Zinfan's comments. electroking, any comments on Geza Anda's version? You mentioned that you had it on CD and I'm just wondering what you thought of it. Thanks again!

I personally favor the Kempff/Leitner Mozart piano concerto recordings on DG, but these guys never did a #22.

Concerning the recording by Anda, I'm somewhat biased as this is the recording
through which I discovered this work. It is definitely very pleasant. Anda recorded
it early (1962) in his complete set, which took 8 years to produce (1961-69).
It's a 'nearly complete set', it does not include the concertos for more than one piano.
The pianist conductor exerts excellent leadership over the orchestra. The sound
is at least as good as that of some later recordings. I cannot, after listening
to several of them, make a definite choice between Brendel/Marriner and Anda,
I will have to keep both, and a few others as well. Hope this helps a bit.

Hi,

Geza Anda's recording was also my introduction to this work. It still sounds fine. I also like Alfred Brendel's on Philips and the Perahia on CBS for other essential recordings. One note on the Anda record. Find a West German Tulip label for best sound. The RCA US pressings are inferior quality. This music was the theme to the Elvira Madigan movie so many were sold. Very popular in the day. :tresbon:

Hi,

Geza Anda's recording was also my introduction to this work. It still sounds fine. I also like Alfred Brendel's on Philips and the Perahia on CBS for other essential recordings. One note on the Anda record. Find a West German Tulip label for best sound. The RCA US pressings are inferior quality. This music was the theme to the Elvira Madigan movie so many were sold. Very popular in the day. :tresbon:


In fact, the 'Elvira Madigan' concerto is No. 21, K. 467, also beautifully
rendered by Anda (I believe it is his version that was used in the movie).

If you have a DG LP in your hands, you can plainly read 'pressed in the
U.S.A. by RCA' on the vinyl just outside the label, assuming it is such
a pressing.

Thanks again to everyone for their input! :yes: