Classical Music: Mozart Piano Concertos Vol 13

Mozart Piano Concertos

Piano concerto 25 in C K503, Piano Concerto 27 in B flat 595, Concert Aria Ch'io mi scordi di te?, K505

The Academy of Ancient Music
Robert Levin, Richard Egarr and soprano Louise Alder.

AAM045

https://aam.co.uk/

What a shame! The Academy of Ancient Music and Robert Levin have concluded their landmark 30-year recording cycle, which showcased Mozart's complete works for keyboard and orchestra.

It was such an enjoyable project to review that I will miss the anticipation of waiting for the next instalment. It has also been revelatory to read about and hear how Robert Levin has approached this project. 

Robert Levin stated: "This cycle is a central element both in Christopher Hogwood's legacy as founder and director of AAM and in my own career. The completion of this cycle represents the successful realisation of a project of outstanding significance.“

This, as with the other twelve discs, is outstanding. The musicianship quality, rhythmic precision, attention to detail, and first-class recording from the AAM's sound engineers are all remarkable.

The K503 and K595 have all of the hallmarks that we have come to expect from the AAM: well-judged dynamics and tempi, Levin's superb spontaneously improvised cadenzas à la Mozart, and flawless ornamentation. After all these years, Levin has achieved what he set out to do in ‘breathing new life into these timeless compositions by reinstating improvisation as a central element, echoing Mozart’s original intent’. The music and performers are lissom, beautifully expressed, and fluid, including a special treat on this final disc: a stunning performance of the concert aria Chi'o mi scordi di te?,(Will I forget you?), sung by Louise Adler, whose dazzling rendition captures all dramatic luminosity superbly.

This is a set of discs we will not forget and this one is a joyous conclusion to a 30-year project and well worth the wait.