Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 | Menahem Pressler, Paavo Järvi & the Orchestre de Paris
1,023,176
Published 2023-05-18
(00:00) Applause
(00:18) I. Allegro
(14:32) II. Larghetto
(22:54) III. Rondo, Allegro
The Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major (K. 595) is the last of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756 – 1791) piano concertos, of a total of 21. He wrote it in 1791, the year of his death. At its premiere in Vienna, Mozart played the solo part himself – it was to be his final public appearance at the piano. Even though this is the last of Mozart’s piano concertos, the drive to realize new compositional forms is nonetheless still very evident. Echoes of Mozart’s well-known spring composition Komm Lieber Mai… (Longing for the Spring) can be heard in the third movement, the Rondo. Although it's written in a major key, the piece sounds mournful, infused with a sense of yearning. The composer had fallen on hard times and was hoping to acquire some financial security by producing a large body of work.
Soloist Menahem Pressler (1923 – 2023) was born Max Pressler in the German city of Magdeburg. His family is Jewish, and after the Nazis came to power, he fled with his parents in 1939 – initially to Palestine, and then on to the US in 1940. The members of his family who remained behind were murdered by the Nazis. In 1946, the young Pressler won the Debussy International Piano Competition in San Francisco, remaining in California thereafter to continue his studies. He founded the world-renowned Beaux Arts Trio in 1955. The ensemble would go on to created over 50 recordings. Numerous musicians comprised the trio up until its final concert, in 2008. Pressler also performed as a soloist throughout his life.
Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi was musical director of the Orchestre de Paris from 2010 – 2016. Paavo Järvi was born in Tallinn, but emigrated to the US in 1980. For a long time he was musical director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and is still in partnership with the ensemble as its Conductor Laureate. He’s been music director and chief conductor of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich since 2019.
The Orchestre de Paris is one of the largest and most-respected orchestras in the world. Founded in 1967, it has been led by several conducting greats, including Herbert von Karajan, Sir Georg Solti and Daniel Barenboim. In 2015, it relocated from the Salle Pleyel to the Philharmonie de Paris in the French capital’s 19th arrondissement.
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All Comments (21)
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We are so much more than the body, Menahem proves we are pure spirit using the body to express the spiritual nature of us human beings.
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I was not his student at IU but was immensely privileged for having many conversations with Mr. Pressler. What a musician, truly a legend. He was always graceful and impressed me by his kindness, smiles and of course, towering knowledge of classical music in general and piano repertoire in particular. He is indeed much missed. But I'm sure he and my piano teacher Mrs. Henriqueta Duarte are having wonderful conversations about Mozart, Beethoven and all the greats! RIP
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God bless this guy. To be able to perform like he did here at his age to this masterpiece of music is a real privilege to watch. I hope he'll get to meet Mozart in the afterlife. Rest in peace brother.
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Praise God for Mozart and those that can play his works.
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This is pure and undivided BEAUTY, ELEGANCE and JOY ...!!!!!
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To anybody who's reading this, I pray that whatever is hurting you or whatever you are constantly stressing about gets better. May the dark thoughts, the overthinking, and the doubt exit your mind. May clarity replace confusion. May peace and calmness fill your life. 💓
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Classical music, the elegant language of emotions, where the notes weave tales of passion, sorrow, and joy that resonate through the ages. 🎵💫
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Thank you for the music, Menahem Pressler. Rest in peace.
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Unglaubliche Meisterleistung eines 89-Pianisten: Besten Dank für diese Aufnahme, die mich gerade jetzt sehr berührt!
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An 89 year young pianist who 2012 plays this Mozart so good! Really amazing. R.I.P., Menahem Pressler.
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We can't live without you, Mozart.
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I love his smiles to the conductor. Not a note wasted - a very special and beautiful performance, and it seems the members of the orchestra agree. Rest in peace, Maestro Pressler. Thank you.
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How wonderful humans are made the ability to enjoy music even for it to reflect on the face ❤
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A beautiful performance. I know that his many students over the years at Indiana University join me in saluting this great artist. R.I.P.
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Das war Mo »zart ». Hervorragend, außergewöhnlich und extra klasse. Ein Musiker 1. Ranges. Es macht Unglaubliche Freude ihm zuzuhören und absolut sympathische Ausstrahlung. Das Larghetto- himmlisch - !
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Menahem Pressler war rein begnadeter Pianist und ein wunderbarer Mensch!
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This concerto exemplifies the Mozart turn. With the blink of an eye, the pivot of a single note transforms the feeling from light to darkness … but then always back to light.
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I have never heard of this amazing pianist before and I am (by chance) watching this podcast. So I did a search on him, only to learn he died on the 6th of May this year. May God Bless this man, he was indeed a virtuoso and will live on in these podcasts for a long time to come, at least so I hope. Simple and sheer brilliance without bravura.
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No murió. Vive en cada nota, en cada obra y en cada vez que lo volvemos a ver o a escuchar. Saludos desde Argentina.! 😊
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I find this music wonderful. It is simple in the most distinguished way, letting the beauty of it out in full freedom. And Menahem Pressler, at this occasion 89, makes his best to let me understand how genious Mozart´s music can be. Thank you sir, and Rest In Peace.
