Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor Michael Rische, piano; WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln; Howard Griffiths, conductor Profil PH09006 Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD Released: 2009 by Rad Bennett radb@soundstage.com Musical Performance Recording Quality Overall Enjoyment

From the opening bars which are driven by an exceptionally taut realization of Mozart’s disturbed, syncopated figure in the strings, one is aware that this performance is going to be a special treat. After all the orchestral bombast, the piano entrance sounds almost from another world. That is, to be sure, mostly Mozart’s doing, but pianist Michael Rische catches the drift perfectly, fully understanding the drama and sublime beauty at war in this seminal composition. The orchestra partners with Rische at every point where it plays. This is not merely piano with orchestra accompaniment but a project that involves every player working together to the nth degree.

Modern technology partners as well. This concerto has been played through history by some awesome pianists, and many of them wrote cadenzas for the first and third movements. Continuing this tradition, Rische contributes his own. He also includes, on separate tracks, the ones by Beethoven, Hummel, Brahms, Clara Schumann, Busoni, and, keeping it in the family, X. F. Mozart. It’s done so that you can program your player to play any combination. This programming procedure is fully explained in the model-of-clarity program notes.

The 5.0 recorded sound is clear but cushy, warm yet crisp, and totally appealing. The piano sounds very three-dimensional and the bass line is exceptionally well recorded, resulting in low frequencies that are sonorous but have a definite, focused beginning to each note. The winds are easily heard since conductor, players, and engineers produce a string sound that is big yet so clean and transparent.

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