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Any suggestions? I'm working on K457 (C-minor Sonata) and K475 (C-minor Fantasy), and I'm looking for an inspirational recording.

I have many of the current versions -- Barenboim, Brendel, Uchida, Badura Skoda, Gieseking, Eschenbach, Pires, Klein, Kraus, Schiff, Wurtz and some others - along with individual sonatas. All have their merits.

Were I to choose one, this time it is easy...I would choose Horszowski...old mono recordings but stunningly conceived.

Ken

kluurs, would it be possible for you to rip the Horszowski recording of the C minor sonata and upload it?

I am very fond of the Uchida recordings. She seems to be able to bring out a lovely lyric line that is missing in some of the others I've heard.

My 2c!

i really like that sonata. I played it on a contest last year and, by opinions of the judges it was like my "top" performance.

ESCHENBACH SO FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

eschenbach is my fave too.

Another vote for Eschenbach for the whole set.

For the particular sonata in concern I vote for Klien and Pires.

I also recomend Uchida.

how about Andras Schiff?

Her style of playing Mozart is distinctive, but I'm afraid I don't like it very much. To me, she over-romanticises in a rather fussy and 'saccharine' fashion.

I think the Mozart sonatas are actually some of the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire to perform well. Hitting the right notes is perhaps not that demanding, but even the slightest imperfection in accent or phrasing is so painfully obvious. (A particular danger with the C minor Sonata is the temptation to play it as if it were Beethoven. )

Matthew

Personally, I think you should play the C minor sonata like the C minor sonata; the A minor sonata like the A minor sonata; Beethoven's Pathétique like Beetoven's Pathétique, etc.

I find it amusing that people say "well Mozart wrote it, so we must play it like X" as if there's some kind of simple pre-defined "Mozart template" you must adhere to.

It's a unique piece of music; play it how it means to you.

My favorite set of Mozart sonatas is probably the one by Horzowski.

i would never presume to say that one recording is the best but if you are interested in a couple of sublime recordings, funnily enough both by women, try annie fischer or clara haskill! oldies but goodies.

Another woman, and Gould's favorite, was Eileen Joyce.

you know she's still alive, living in perth, western australia. hasn't concertized for years.

I greatly enjoy my Uchida recording of the B-flat, and the other sonata with a set of variations as the 3rd movement. It's probably subjective whether she's "lyrical" or "saccharine"

Ken, you're a gentleman of superior taste. ;)Horszowski is my choice as well.

Mine as well. I bought them on your recommendation and they immediately were my favorite set.

I am thinking of picking up a new set as well, as I have one by Barenboim that I don't like that much.

In the Horszowski, is the sound quality an issue since it is mono? Is it still enjoyable?

I don't have much of a stereo system because many of my most favorite recordings were made way back in the mono era. The music comes through.