‘The composer and conductor Ignaz Lachner made arrangements of many Mozart concertos, including the two featured on this recording for piano and string quartet with double bass. Most likely it was for the simple pleasure of domestic use – having the opportunity to play these beloved works without the need of a full orchestra. Both concertos are highly virtuosic, filled with bravura writing and true showmanship. But they also contain some highly witty musical surprises as well as extraordinary magical moments.
The piano part in these arrangements remains absolutely the same as in the original version and, as far as possible, Lachner incorporated the wind parts into the strings. At times, my distinguished colleagues and I made some minor modifications to Lachner’s version, where we thought it to be more in keeping with Mozart’s intentions.
I hope you will enjoy these world premiere recordings of these Mozart arrangements.’
– Alon Goldstein
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756–1791)
Piano Concertos Nos. 19 and 25
(arr. Ignaz Lachner)
Alon Goldstein, Piano • Fine Arts QuartetMozart’s return to Vienna in 1781 initiated a remarkable period of inventiveness and productivity. In late 1784 he wrote the Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, a work Mozart performed in Frankfurt on the occasion of Leopold II’s election as Holy Roman Emperor and which is notable for its rhythmic vivacity and sense of colour. In 1786 he wrote the Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major – a work that stretched the concerto genre considerably with its operatic qualities and dramatic dialogue. Ignaz Lachner’s ingenious transcriptions show a complete grasp of Mozart’s idiom, incorporating much instrumental detail and reinventing the music’s underlying dramatic scheme within a chamber context.
III. Allegretto
Alon Goldstein has appeared with the Chicago, San Francisco and Beijing Symphony Orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Los Angeles, London and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras. Recent highlights include performances of Prokofiev’s Piano Concertos with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Mozart’s Triple Concerto at Carnegie Hall, and a 17-concert Latin American tour with the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
The Fine Arts Quartet ranks among the most distinguished ensembles in chamber music today, with an illustrious history of performing success and an extensive legacy of over 200 recorded works. Many of the Quartet’s recent releases have been selected for inclusion on GRAMMY Awards entry lists in the categories Best Classical Album and/or Best Chamber Music Performance, and have received multiple awards and distinctions.
From left to right: Ralph Evans, Efim Boico, Gil Sharon, Niklas Schmidt
Lizzie Burns is a sought-after bassist and chamber musician who performs in chamber orchestras, continuo sections, rhythm sections and new music ensembles. She has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, recorded for major record labels and motion picture soundtracks, given dozens of world premieres, is a member of The Knights and A Far Cry, and is on faculty at the Hartt School of Music and the Mannes Conservatory at The New School.
(arr. Ignaz Lachner)
Goldstein • Fine Arts Quartet
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
(arr. Ignaz Lachner)
Goldstein • Fine Arts Quartet
– Classic FM
(arr. Ignaz Lachner)
Goldstein • Fine Arts Quartet
– Fanfare