Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 And 24

It’s a family affair!

Pianist Orli Shaham has released a new recording on her brother Gil Shaham‘s label, Canary Classics. It features two of Mozart’s piano concertos, Nos. 17 and 24, and she’s performing with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Shaham’s husband, the conductor David Robertson, is at the podium.

This is a rich recording with a big sound, but that doesn’t sacrifice or overwhelm Mozart’s genius in any way. The beauty, technical virtuosity and deftness with which Shaham, Robertson and the orchestra play bring out the best in the music.

The balance is superb, just right between soloist and ensemble.

The link between the two pieces is variations: The concertos included on the recording are the only two whose final movements are in the form of a single theme and variations. Mozart really stretches the pianist in both concertos and was also pushing compositional boundaries of the theme and variation form at the time. Shaham prevails with power, nuance and lovely timing. The orchestral performance and interpretation is superb throughout.

Who knows to what degree the marriage enhanced this recording, but Shaham, Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra make brilliant musical bedfellows.