Artur Schnabel plays Mozart Rondo in A minor, K.511

[lmalinofskyjr]

Agree Schnabel's performances have an uncolored purity. This is particularly evident in his performance of the Beethoven "Hammerklavier" sonata-- his performance rivals Serkin's, whose metier is more poetry than purity. His performance of this rondo brings out the bitterness in which Mozart was living when it was composed. After hearing the depths and dimension Schnabel brings to this work, I cannot listen to any other performance. They all seem just "pretty" and inconsequential.

[mogpops3]

sounds more like chopin than mozart

[Bnjolly]

One of Mozart's most "romantic" works; I agree with others who hear reminders of Chopin. Beatifully performed by Schnabel, as always!

[omnishubo]

he is a little too artificial on the downbeat - I'm not so sure about doing that on classical work

[olgachefugge]

it gives me great nostalgy. it makes me think of the croat movie RONDò. what a poetic comparison between life and a rondò...

[MrCapacitors]

I like this rubatoversion.

[lmalinofskyjr]

@MrCapacitors The human heart does not run like a clockwork. The rubato makes this piece breathe and brings it alive.

[composerdoh]

Sublime interpretation.

[billyguns2]

Schnabel and Landowska are the best in this music, IMO; Gieseking sounds positively trite by comparison due to his too fast tempo, although as always he displays gorgeous tone and phrase shaping.

[mrbrianmccarthy]

This piece must've had an incredible influence on Chopin,espicially his waltzes(Op 34#2) and his nocturnes.(Op 55 #2 )Also,each time Mozart repeats the main theme he varies the rhythm quite a bit,usually by adding more notes/chromaticism,a trait that became one of Chopins trademarks. One of my favorite solo piano pieces by Mozart,if not my very favorite.

[mrbrianmccarthy]

This piece must've had an incredible influence on Chopin,espicially his waltzes(Op 34#2 comes to mind) and his nocturnes.(Op 55 #2 comes to mind)

[smnhsk]

This is great perormance, But I don't understand why there are so many wrong note and much tempo rubato.. Why he is considered as one of the great interpretater for Beethoven even though he use much tempo rubato on it, which is usually prohibited when you play pieces of classic period.

[mrbrianmccarthy]

@smnhsk The tempo rubato is nice---the wrong notes are unfortunate.By the way,Mozart often used Tempo Rubato in his pieces,as did CPE Bach.

[morvensky]

@smnhsk He was a bit older in this recording so it might have been his old age.

[Raggedy9]

@smnhsk The idea that rubato is prohibited (by whom?) in pieces from the classical period is a misconception. Read Harold Schonberg's chapter on Beethoven in his "The Great Pianists," in which he quotes descriptions of Beethoven's playing left to us by his associates. They all agree that Beethoven played his own music with tremendous freedom of tempo.

By the way, as famous as Schnabel was for his Beethoven interpretations, in my opinion he was at his greatest performing the music of Schubert.

[lmalinofskyjr]

@Raggedy9 If I remember correctly from Thayer's Life of Beethoven, it was said when playing Beethoven at times would introduce "a stunning ritard".

[steveeastend]

I don´t think it´s possible to play this any better.

[meredith218461]

A perfectly judged performance, for me the best version. Through Schnabels consumate artistry one is made aware of the composers greatness without the performers personality impinging on the music.

[WAMEDJO]

@meredith218461

I've heard all those posted on YouTube and I shall say, it's my favorite. One that I even prefer is Ashkenazy's -not on YT- which is very close to this one on all aspects surprisingly, but a bit more concentrated or controlled, "nocturne" to make it brief. I miss this recording (I only have it on tape).

[meredith218461]

@WAMEDJO Ashkenazy in his heyday as pianist was right up there with the best of them, I have always admired his sheer unaffected musicianship. Schnabel however despite his sometimes erratic and splashy playing made a great Beethoven or Schubert slow mvt (not to mention Mozart) speak to the listener as very few others could.

[24goodtimes7]

This is one of the first blossoms of romanticism in music. Schnabel brings out the full depth and beauty without any mannerisms or exaggeration.

Wonderful !