Rudolf Serkin - Rudolf Serkin Plays Mozart Piano Concertos (2017)

Known for his intense, insightful interpretations of the classical repertoire, Rudolf Serkin was one of the great American pianists of the mid-century, and seldom was he more in his element than when playing Mozart. This new six-CD release unites for the first time fourteen Mozart concerto recordings made at the height of his career, between 1951 and 1977. His is not a raised-little-finger type of Mozart; it is rugged, has contour, and is a welcome relief from the pretty-pretty conceptions heard only too often , wrote Gramophone of a 1955 recording with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra and Alexander Schneider. With the same orchestra, Serkin is ideally matched (AllMusic Guide) with conductor George Szell; elsewhere he partners Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as Pablo Casals at the cellist-conductor s festival in Perpignan for No. 22 ( exultant and miraculous BBC Music Magazine). Recordings from the Marlboro Festival include the Concerto No. 10 for two pianos with his then-teenage son Peter Serkin.

Tracklist:
CD1
Mozart: Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra No. 10 in E flat, K365

Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin;Peter Serkin, Peter Serkin (piano), Rudolf Serkin (piano), Marlboro Festival Orchestra
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Rondo. Allegro

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K414

Marlboro Festival Orchestra
Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Rondeau. Allegretto

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major, K449

Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andantino
III. Allegro ma non troppo

CD2
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K453

Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegretto

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K459

Columbia Symphony Orchestra
George Szell
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
I. Allegro
II. Allegretto
III. Allegro assai

Mozart: Rondo in A minor, K511
Rudolf Serkin (piano)

CD3
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466

Columbia Symphony Orchestra
George Szell
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
I. Allegro
II. Romance
III. Allegro assai

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K595

Eugene Ormandy
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Philadelphia Orchestra
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegro

 Excerpt  Mozart: Rondo for Piano & Orchestra in D major, K382

Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Columbia Symphony Orchestra

CD4
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K271 "Jeunehomme"

Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Marlboro Festival Orchestra
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Rondeau. Presto

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major, K413

Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Marlboro Festival Orchestra
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Tempo di Menuetto

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 16 in D major, K451

Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Allegro assai
II. Andante
III. Allegro di molto

CD5
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K467 'Elvira Madigan'

Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante
III. Allegro vivace assai

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat major, K482

Pablo Casals
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Perpignan Festival Orchestra
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro

CD6
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488

Alexander Schneider
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro assai

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K503

George Szell
Rudolf Serkin (piano), Columbia Symphony Orchestra
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante
III. Allegretto