a couple of Mozart sonatas
if a symphony is a concerto without a soloist, a sonata
is a concerto without an orchestra, the soloist plays
alone, must deliver the same enchantment
there are nevertheless always therefore the prerequisite
several movements, otherwise no sonata
the sonata, as we know it, originated in the mid-18th
century with more or less Mozart, earlier the term
applied to other structural notions in music
to still my consternation they were often not continuous,
movements were performed indiscriminately among other
eclectic acts in an evening of diverse entertainments, it
was Beethoven who put a decisive stop to that, though
himself Mozart, had probably settled the matter for all
practical purposes somewhat earlier
Beethoven among his other theoretical principles codified
that, indeed wrote the book on it, like Moses delivering
the commandments, except that Beethoven presented
horizons in his mythology, miraculous and infinite,
instead of castigation and luxurious sin
his understanding of music, still now unsurpassed, is
demonstrable in his works through all the musical
innovations that have since, through all the very ages,
transpired, down to even his bagatelles, musical trifles,
which I’ll approach later, if you’ll stick around
but it starts essentially with Mozart
Mitsuko Uchida, who is unsurpassed in Mozart, plays
the piano sonata in D major K.576, K for Köchel,
Ludwig von Köchel, who catalogued finally, in 1862,
nearly a hundred years after Mozart’s death, in 1791,
the complete works of the master, other works have
been intermittently added since so that several
revised editions have dutifully followed, lettered a, b,
626
Mozart’s music is sprightly, effervescent, magical, but
not especially intellectually challenging, I think of toy
soldiers and candy cane, innocence and a child’s delight
in the infinite possibilities of creation, Creation
Alfred Brendel who stands shoulder to shoulder with
the iconic Glenn Gould when it comes to Beethoven,
of 18 piano sonatas, the D major K.576 above, was
his last
Brendel is too commanding to play authentic Mozart,
though his technique is irreproachable, admirable,
spotless, wonderful
he is Beethoven playing Mozart however, an uneven
fit
comparing the two interpretations is instructive, Brendel
will dazzle, inevitably, but Uchida will make you fly
don’t believe me, count on it
Richard
Richibi's Weblog 