Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos 9 in E flat and 12 in A*; Violin Concerto No. 2 in D**
*Evren Ozel (piano), **Jan Mráček (violin); ORF Vienna Radio- Symphony Orchestra/Howard Griffiths
AlphaClassicsALPHA1139 75:04mins
That Alpha’s ‘New Generation Mozart Soloists’ project hasn’t yet fully equalled the sum of its parts is most likely due to the relative inexperience of some of the performers, who might not yet comprehend the late Alfred Brendel’s observation, that with Mozart ‘everyone tries too hard ... and at the same time, not hard enough!’
However, pianist Evren Ozel, who plays Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos 9 and 12, K271 and K414, might well be the exception here. He acquits himself superbly in both works, emerging as a scholarly and uncannily mature Mozartian, whose playing reveals both insight and intellectual rigour. His reading of K414 sparkles and charms, its central Andante disarmingly realised, with winningly understated interplay between soloist and orchestra.
K271, written for Louise Victoire Jenamy in 1777, and popularly (though incorrectly) known as the ‘Jeunehomme’ Concerto, is among the most substantial and brilliant of Mozart’s early concertos. Ozel’s lucid pianism and rhythmic acuity vouchsafes a dazzling account of this work, inviting comparison
with those by Mozartians of the stature of Murray Perahia, Mitsuko Uchida and, of course, Brendel.
Also included is Jan Mráček’s polished and sophisticated reading of the K211 Violin Concerto. This, too, is a performance of energy, elegance and originality, due in no small part to Mráček’s inspired choice of rarely heard cadenzas by Czech composer Norbert Kubát (1863-1935). This absorbing issue is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this series.