Pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s first three volumes of Mozart piano concertos with the Manchester Camerata conducted by Gabor Takács-Nagy have been received with widespread acclaim, and so it’s with some excitement that he released the keenly anticipated fourth instalment in the series.
Composed within just one month in early 1785, these two concertos are among the most popular of all of Mozart’s piano concertos.
The Piano Concerto No. 20, K 466, was his first concerto in a minor key, and it’s dark and stormy nature contrasts the light and sunny feeling of concerto no.21. As with so many of his piano concertos, both works were composed for the Vienna concert series, and given their premiere performances with Mozart at the keyboard.
These two concertos are interspersed on this recording with a vivid performance of the Don Giovanni Overture, which further demonstrates the exemplary playing of the Manchester Camerata.
Here is Vladimir Ashkenazy in the Concerto #21 by Mozart:
