Mozart: Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K. 448; Schubert: Fantasia for Piano, 4 Hands in F Minor,...

Mozart: Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K. 448; Schubert: Fantasia for Piano, 4 Hands in F Minor, D 940 | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, ... | Highly rated

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Mozart: Sonata for...

	Mozart: Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K. 448; Schubert: Fantasia for Piano, 4 Hands in F Minor, D 940 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, ... Sony, 2003 average customer review:based on 4 reviews view larger image
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The Full Keyboard - More Mozart and Schubert!

The credentials of both of the two soloists here - Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu - are impeccable as individual interpreters of the works of both Mozart and Schubert and so it should come as no surprise that as they sit at the same keyboard the result is nothing less than satisfying.

For this listener the highlight of this recording is the splendid composition by Schubert - the 'Fantasia for piano, 4 hands in F minor', D. 94. The work contains some of his most haunting melodies in his oeuvre and Perahia and Lupu find that degree of harmony that makes the piece truly sing.

The Mozart works (Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K 375), the Fantasia for mechanical organ in F minor, K. 608 and Variations on an original theme for piano, 4 hands in G major, K. 501) are of interest not only because they are rarely heard, but also because of the intelligent music making Perahia and Lupu bring to their interpretations. Without a score in hand it is difficult to know which exposed parts are being played by which soloist and that is as it should be. The two pianists mirror each other and respect the performances in a way that is a welcome unified sound.

Works for extended piano keyboard, whether that be on the same keyboard or on two pianos, are too infrequently performed for obvious reasons. But here we have two of our finest pianists on a CD that is available at the press of a button. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, July 06

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Highly rated

A superb collaboration of two great pianists recently remastered for better sound quality. Masterful music but perhaps a divergent coupling. This performance was given high marks by major reviewers (Gramophone). See original CD issue for more reviews on Amazon.

Classic(al)

Fabulous music performed by fabulous musicians. Mozart is one of my favorite composers. His music is genius. And Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu are two of the greatest pianists of our time.

Transcendent Music, Perfectly Played

Schubert's F minor Fantasy is the greatest work for piano 4-hands. To my ears, indeed, it comes close to the summit of all music.

The F minor Fantasy has always drawn great artists to it and has been much and well recorded, by such duo pianists as Eschenbach-Frantz, Richter-Britten, Aebersold-Neiweem, Levin-Bilson, Schnabel (Helen)-Schnabel (Karl), the Paratore brothers, the Pekinel sisters, and Brendel-Cochet, to name only a few. I own more than 20 recordings of the piece. Astonishingly, all are rewarding; many are sublime.

Even within this lofty group, the Lupu and Perahia recording stands out. Their playing combines rhythmic propulsion with a kind of dreamy relaxation. They accomplish this, as I hear it, by imparting a slightly more supple inflection to the primo part than to the secundo, all the while sounding like a single musician with 20 fingers. The sound quality is impeccable. I doubt the F minor Fantasy can be played better or recorded with greater fidelity.

The clincher here is that Amazon.com sells the entire F minor Fantasy (almost 20 minutes of music) as a single file for 99 cents. So buy it. Pound for pound, it will be the best 99 cents you ever spent.

The rest of this disk is superb as well, including an outstanding recording of Mozart's D major sonata for two pianos.

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