Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata
No. 14 in C minor, K.457 (1784) [17:07]
Piano Sonata
No. 13 in B-flat major, K.333 (1783) [18:33]
Piano Sonata
No. 12 in F major, K.332 (1783) [15:56]
Piano Sonata
No. 8 in A minor K.310 (1778) [15:22]
Virginia Black (piano)
rec. 2017, Lion Ballroom, Leominster, UK
CRD 3538 [66:00]
Here is another disc of Mozart piano sonatas; this time by well-regarded pianist Virginia Black. Whether this will be part of a cycle, I’m not sure but Ms Black comments that Mozart sonatas are underrated and are much better played than just studied. As someone who remembers the 1960s recordings by Walter Klien (Turnabout), highly regarded by my late Dad, their joys are already known. The number of recorded cycles seems to be steadily increasing so any new arrival faces considerable competition, not least Jean Muller (Hänssler) whose second disc I’ve just been reviewing. Muller’s first record includes No. 12 which is also on the present CRD recital. One of the first sets that I reviewed for MWI, back in 2006 was the excellent cycle by Leon McCawley (Avie) and my ‘standby’ choices remain Mitsuko Uchida (Philips) and Daniel Barenboim (Warner). I’m sure you have your own favourites too, and others will have the great pleasure of playing of them on the piano.
Virginia Black starts with one of Mozart’s later sonatas, No. 14 K.457 which clearly had an influence on Beethoven. Whilst the first movement Molto Allegro seems optimistic, there is a world-weary air about the poignant Adagio. The Allegro has underlying sadness and restlessness, which might be seen as a foretaste of Beethoven’s Appassionata. The recording is clear but I find the ballroom venue too big for Mozart’s music; it produces a slight “swimming pool” effect. This over-bright sound prevails in No. 13 K.333 which was composed during a time of great activity in the composer’s life; he also had recently married. It features another sublime Andante Cantabile and a favourite charming Allegro. What I find missing in these performances is a special magic. I find the playing very accomplished but a tad earthbound for repeated listening although I would undoubtedly have enjoyed hearing Ms Black in concert in a suitable venue. I note that the recordings were all made on one day.
My slight personal reservations are crystallised in K.310, a sonata that I know almost better than any other. It is used to striking effect in “Room with a View” and I still have great affection for Dinu Lipatti (Warner), a comparison that is probably grossly unfair but I can’t greatly warm to Virginia Black here. The three movements are played with skill but I don’t feel warmth and again this may be a function of the recording. It’s obviously a matter of taste; I recall being disappointed in a Mozart sonata CD by the great Wilhelm Kempff (DG). Of the three movements the most successful is the final Presto which has pleasant touches but cannot fully redeem what has gone before. No. 12 K.332 very much follows the pattern of the other sonatas and receives a highly accomplished rendition but is a shade prosaic and falls short on the magic that I look for.
Admirers of Virginia Black will undoubtedly enjoy this recording and hope for further volumes of Mozart sonatas; I will stay with Uchida, Barenboim and McCawley.
David R Dunsmore
