Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

D minor

Recordings

Top Choice

Clifford Curzon / Benjamin Britten / English Chamber Orchestra

1970

Gil's top choice. 'Sounds great.' Curzon has a 'beautiful lightness of touch' and 'wonderful grace'.

Also Worth Hearing

Daniel Barenboim / Daniel Barenboim / English Chamber Orchestra

1967

A strong version. A highlight of his complete set. A 'nice, warm, sumptuous recording' with 'drama and this warmth and just great imagination'.

Rudolf Serkin / George Szell / Columbia Symphony

1961

A 'really strong, assertive, dramatic version' that sounds pretty good.

Clara Haskil / Igor Markevitch / Orchestre Lamoureux

1960

A 'very dramatic, powerful version.' Haskil is 'very cleanly articulated'.

Sviatoslav Richter / Stanisław Wisłocki / Warsaw Philharmonic

1959

Sounds pretty good. Richter 'reigns it in' and is 'held back a little bit,' making it 'just really beautiful'.

Murray Perahia / Murray Perahia / English Chamber Orchestra

1977

A top choice. 'Beautiful light touch, very gentle, very dignified, and just beautiful artistry.' Very good sound.

Richard Goode / / Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

1990s

A 'more assertive, a little bit faster interpretation' with a powerful and dramatic orchestra.

Alfred Brendel / Sir Charles Mackerras / Scottish Chamber Orchestra

1999

Lighter textures, assertive, and dramatic pacing, balanced by Brendel's 'wonderfully poised' playing.

Malcolm Bilson / John Eliot Gardiner / English Baroque Soloists

1987 Period-instrument performance

A period performance. 'Much swifter, lighter,' with 'great clarity and transparency.' A 'beautiful sounding' interpretation.

Edwin Fischer / Edwin Fischer / London Philharmonic

1933 Historic recording

A historical choice. Old sound, but 'very dramatic and powerful.' Fischer's insights are 'well worth the effort'.