| Review by hrpschrd July 6, 2013 (3 of 8 found this review helpful)
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I am afraid I have to dissent in this review. Zacharias has fair to good reviews by the professionals at Classics Today and 15/15 positive reviews here, but I am sorry I wasted my money on this recording and will likely let it collect dust.
Zacharias has excellent skill and musicianship and the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra plays crisply and with fervor. But Zacharias' technique is so "delicate" that it takes all the blood out of Concerto 21 (KV467). I can't say I have ever heard anyone play so lightly on piano keys, which is of course a percussion instrument. The result, whether intended or not, is of a precious and delicate piece of thin crystal. I would be willing to bet that not one keystroke reached the bottom of its range. After KV467, I had to take the disc out. I literally couldn't stand to listen to the other two concertos.
This is probably the most recorded of Mozart's piano concertos and one of my favorites so I own or have heard many versions. Uchida also plays this piece delicately but not to such an extreme as Zacharias. I have to admit he is very consistent with this approach throughout the piece I will allow a musician's right to his interpretation but this is a Mozart foreign to me from the recorded and performance body of his works I have enjoyed.
I have many recordings of the piano concertos because there is such a range of styles of expression and cadenzas available to enjoy. Zacharias' own cadenzas are also the most frustrating for me to hear because they completely disrupt the flow and add nothing to demonstrate an impressive technique to justify it. The term "doodling" came to mind. My favorite cadenzas for KV467 are those by Radu Lupu used by Brendel (Phillips) who uses the themes of the piece beautifully and actually adds excitement to the whole. This would be a suggested alternative to Zacharias although I also like Perahia's on Sony. I regret writing such a negative review but this recording seems like a negative interpretation of some of Mozart's best music.
The surround effects are very subtle and would appeal to those that prefer a minimalist approach.
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