In an edition of several releases on Eloquence devoted to the artistry of the great Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha’s Decca recordings, comes the first release on CD of her recording with David Zinman, of Mozart’s delectable A major Concerto KV 414. Coupled exactly as per the original LP (SXL 6952), this release offers up Larrocha’s subtlety of phrasing and nimble fingerwork in the Bach and Haydn Concertos. The ‘gypsy’ finale of the latter is something she clearly relishes. Everywhere, the playing is, according to Jeremy Nicholas who writes the notes for this release, ‘supremely elegant, employing unforced tempi in the two outer movements with a minimum use of the pedal, played with a lyrical grace and always that warm, limpid tone’. This issue forms part of an on-going series of Alicia de Larrocha’s Decca recordings.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Keyboard Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN
Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII: 2
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Piano Concerto in A major, KV 414*
Alicia de Larrocha, piano
London Sinfonietta
David Zinman
*FIRST RELEASE ON CD
Recording Producer: Michael Haas
Recording Engineer: Simon Eadon
Recording Location: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, 13–14 September 1979 (Mozart, Bach), 31 August 1980 (Haydn)
‘delightfully fresh’ … ‘spontaneity and joy in the music-making … the sound is wonderfully vivid and clear’Gramophone (1981)