MOZART: Piano Concerto No.23, K488, Last Movement (Steven Devine: Fortepiano)

MOZART: Piano Concerto No.23, K488, Last Movement
In this film, Steven Devine directs the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment through this exuberant Concerto with the full flair and colour of a fortepiano.
(Wait...what is a fortepiano? • Introducing Mozart's F... )
Clarinets and flute give this concerto a warm, soft-edged glow and the finale is pure comic opera.
This video is a recording of the final movement from No.23, to hear the full performance by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, please visit www.oaeplayer.com
Piano Concerto No.23 in A, K.488, Allegro assai by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).
Recorded from Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, 2020.
Solo Fortepiano: Steven Devine
Orchestra
Violin I:
Margaret Faultless
Alice Evans
Rodolfo Richter
Henry Tong
Debbie Diamond
Violin II:
Kati Debretzeni
Iona Davies
Kinga Ujszaszi
Claire Holden
Daniel Edgar
Viola:
Max Mandel
Martin Kelly
Kate Heller
Marina Ascherson
Cello:
Jonathan Manson
Catherine Rimer
Double Bass:
Kate Brooke
Carina Cosgrave
Flute:
Lisa Beznosiuk
Clarinet:
Katherine Spencer
Sarah Thurlow
Bassoon:
Philip Turbett
Sally Jackson
Horn
Gavin Edwards
Martin Lawrence
Nicholas Benz
David Bentley
View the concert programme:
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[@robertm2000]

Can't remember which critic said it, but I remember reading one person who said, "There is nothing like a fortepiano for making a Mozart run sound like a string of pearls!"

[@user-yd6ef1yo9d]

Yes, the fortepiano is great, but sound engineers often do not amplify the fortepiano sufficiently to be heard above the orchestra, in my humble opinion.

[@idraote]

Not enough people realise how different the fortepiano is from a modern piano. Misled by the fact that Mozart's music sounds good even when played on a child's battery-operated pianola, they want their ears soothed by the big grand Steinway and Sons. And they don't realise how different and how "right" Mozart's works sound on the right instruments. The piano concertos, in particular... The fortepiano is the only instrument that can bring them to life.

[@shangshi4609]

Of course Mozart will use an iPad to read his music back to the enlightenment era! 😊 fantastic performance!

[@jmuskett]

Are you blind? It’s a historically accurate iPad.

[@ybaydur]

The clarinets are just wonderful. What a great sound for an orchestra. I think we are closer here to what Mozart heard, and had in mind. All the parts are there. Congratulations!

[@mr.hashundredsofprivatepla3711]

It feels like a breath of fresh air to hear what the song would have sounded like in their original era, with the original instruments

[@ThiloAbend]

Not only a breath of fresh air but simply he only way it sounds correct.

[@De_mitaSiburian-uw7xs]

Bien

[@Geoplanetjane]

Not a song. It’s a concerto

[@pianoish]

This tempo is perfect. The music is so clear. The fortepiano has so much charm and color! Thank you!

[@Silversorcerer]

Yes, and there isn't excessive pedaling, turning crisp mozart runs into melting glissandos. I love the keyboard instruments before the floor pedal.

[@jochanaan58]

Agree with everyone about the period-instrument sounds! They play it significantly slower than I've heard with modern instruments. And this is good! We hear every note, and the clarinets aren't scrambling their rapid tonguing. Well played!

[@leoperarm]

Loved the more delicate sound of the smaller orchestra.

[@MrMarcvus]

This sounds beautiful and makes sense! I can hear the beauty of Mozart’s instrumentation! I cannot understand why people insist on playing such beautiful music on modern instruments! In doing so the character of the music is lost!

[@hiera1917]

I find that both have their place. While it’s true that the period instrumentation is what was originally written for, tastes, instruments, and indeed times have changed. Hearing this concerto with modern instruments gives it a more springy vibe, which is pleasant, and hearing it like this gives it more of a playful feeling which is what I think Mozart was more going for. In either case my heart is warmed

[@matteomagurno3068]

@@hiera1917 The only reason I don’t like listening to 18th century music on 20th century orchestras is because the strings are just too overpowered. You don’t get to experience- melodically -anything other than the first and second violins. On the other hand, on period instruments, the whole is much more harmonious and yet singular. It sounds very romantic and rich, and when asked for absolutely livid dinamics. I don’t have much listening experience with 19th century composers, but with mid 20th century compositions I can tell you that modern orchestras sound very brilliant and fluid.

[@GiuseppeFochesato]

To tell you the thruth, it is possible a modern orchestra and piano, there are various recordings, it dependes if there is a director who knows the ancient practice or is more open mind as it was already Abbado with Serkin.

[@musical.0uija]

Because not only are period instruments hard to come by, they are also very expensive. Either restored ones or new reproductions. Most professional musicians don’t make much money. Fortepianos are especially rare compared to modern concert grands.

[@Matthijs2091]

Back in 1786 for 10 minutes, thank you❤

[@daloki349]

Such Clarity. Faultless and Devine indeed!

[@oae]

Oh very clever! :D

[@daloki349]

@@oae Haha! It must be a running gag amongst the members of the Orchestra.

[@joannaseligman5973]

@@daloki349 but much deserved!

[@llamallama1509]

A fortepiano with a tablet for showing the music. I like the history clash :)

[@Avisogreif]

An absolute delight!

[@alanleslie7751]

WOW! BRILLIANT!

[@josed.vargas3961]

Funny to see the soloist playing a fortepiano while reading from a tablet :)

[@millennial8441]

Amazing performance. As always, Mozart being creative and skilfulled managing the wood winds.

[@LeRainbow]

Beautiful and thank you for preforming to all the musicians and the endless hours of practise they put in and also to the crew recording video and audio and lastly to whomever uploaded the final video to KZbin. No need for a musical doctorate, just listen with my two ears. I bet Mozart would've loved to be able to play all instruments at once by himself, he would really love our modern electronic recording abilities I am sure of it.

[@adrianoseresi3525]

Ah yes this movement has the funniest bassoon passage! 0:45

[@musik350]

what a marvellous performance! thank you, OAE!

[@user-od3mt6lq7f]

Beautiful. Thank you for posting

[@karldittersdorf4508]

What an absolute pleasure to listen to! Wonderful performance and on period instruments, who could ask for anything more? I could, all of you should move to America so I don't have to cross the pond to see a live performance please! No, I can't recommend that in all honesty... I think it is better if I just move to Europe. Problem solved. Thank you for making this amazing performance available on youtube! Cheers!

[@kyleethekelt]

You're lucky you're a mere ocean away. I'll never get to see them live from the place I call home (smiles ruefully).

[@matthewwhitehouse301]

Mozarts music is pure magic

[@shoshannafachima1306]

Bravo bravissimo Pure joy🎶🎵

[@user-qv9hb4kp9f]

…a treat to hear this on instruments used during the period… gives a fresh point for departure for reinterpretation…

[@artfuldodger4850]

Not known as the “great A major” for nothing, this is a lovely version, thank you all.

[@peter5.056]

In college, I took every opportunity to play recitals on the historical instruments, like the fortepiano. It was a sublime musical experience.

[@JaneDoe-ci3gj]

Wow, so beautiful! Bravo!👏👏👏❣ Impresssive finger work on the piano!👍😎

[@Fumozart]

This is such a great and wonderful performance with period instruments! I love the horns in particular though.

[@user-yk1ye3uj7i]

しばらく音楽から離れていて、久しぶりに聴いたのがこの動画でした。 モーツァルトの音楽は本当に美しく涙が出ました。神憑っているのだと。 素晴らしい演奏ありがとうございます。 また、昔のように古楽器を使い古楽の奏法で演奏したくなりました。

[@julioblancobadiola6973]

Superb Devine and OAE!!!👏👏👏

[@richardrye7200]

Thoroughly delightful, charming, and wonderful!

[@myboibill]

Of course I have heard the piano forte many times before but this performance exemplifies what a wonderful instrument it is. This music was written for. I don’t get me rhino I love a wonderful piano but with all of the access to KZbin videos like this I am now spoiled by this instrument. I am sure I will locate one and have it restored not for myself but for a young student who will perhaps have it for a lifetime. Thank you for this performance that’s what we will here in heaven if there is a heaven and I believe there is.

[@Marcus-ym2kg]

What a great piece! Wonderfully performed, thank you, it made my day a little brighter 🤗👏🏻

[@truthinesssss]

Brilliant! ☀️

[@cliveparaschis]

Clean, lithe, enchanting!

[@robhaskins]

Great tempo!

[@hectorserna7950]

Breathtaking. Such a joy to listen to.

[@robloxmaniacdanceandshake7871]

Really outstanding ...

[@thomassieg666]

Good Tempo.

[@danthefrst]

Very nice! Great many thanks

[@roybean7166]

Very good, well played !

[@Loras36]

Amazing ❤👍👏💐

[@ImKah-e2u]

did anybody notice that one of the cellos has an end pin?

[@jhalent93]

Give it to me one more time!!!

[@blackredcat69]

Very good performance, much more crisp and clear than on modern instruments, when most pianists tend to have a more "romantic" approach and create a muddled sound. It helps to better hear and understand this music. Good work! But for me there is nothing really new. I bought, more than 10 years ago, a cd-set with the complete edition of the Mozart piano concerts played on fortepiano by Jos van Immerseel (all recorded live), so I am familiar with it. Earlier this year, the Orfeo Ensemble played in Budapest concerto no. 17 the same way in a concert celebrating their 30th aniversary - it is still available on youtube.

[@renzinobiotti3076]

Meraviglia !

[@pascualgimeno6804]

Amazing performance!!

[@MizzKittyBichon]

One person thought there were too many notes. 🎶

[@BlueSteve]

The fortepiano sounds like minecraft noteblocks

[@michaelbenoit9240]

Nice touch with the ipad

[@mikeduris2523]

Magic

[@matteogarzetti]

Grazie

[@Chdesignssecondo96]

Cool Performance 😸😊

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

Wonderful!

[@rbooy3]

One thing is rather anachronistic: the tablet on the piano.

[@tjwhite1963]

This really ought to have been taken at a brisker pace. Normally, I rue the modern tendency in ppp orchestras to rush tempi, but here, it really was necessary to speed things up some. This sounds belaboured, and lacking in the drama so necessary for Mozart, the great dramatist.

[@dorette-hi4j]

I agree. It is alla breve, so you should feel 2 in a bar, not 4. This is about the right speed for a 4/4 first movement allegro, not for an alla breve last movement allegro assai.

[@jakobler3474]

I feel the 2/2 tbh It‘s not only about tempo but also about phrasing

[@tjwhite1963]

@jakobler3474 Back to my OP about Mozart as a great and preeminent dramatist.

[@jefolson6989]

5:31-38 the most Mozartian phrase ever!

[@thomassieg666]

Rather 6:00

[@mr88cet]

Not super-important, but interesting: The seating here is curious: Winds in front facing backward. Perhaps especially interesting for the horns since their bells face backward, toward the audience. Probably fair to say this is chosen for recording purposes.

[@mickey3324]

Wonderful to hear this, more "original" sound to one of Mozarts most joyful concerto finales. My only criticism would be the rather slow tempo, closer to an allegretto than an allegro assai. Maybe it's correct for the instrument, or I'm used to hearing it played faster on modern set ups?

[@GerardvanR]

You ask a question, and you give the answer by yourself.

[@yakinthebox]

it is indeed Devine

[@MrInterestingthings]

Wonderful to hear what these concerti sounded like and would Mozart want 10 first violins ? He would love our piano sound of course these things sound like a wooden studio upright but there is a quality that is very fine to experience .

[@jdiaz4877]

well done

[@duncanfisher2986]

Magnificent. And to hear it as Mozart heard it! Why are they spread out so widely? Not being facetious -- is it a staging thing, an acoustic thing, a Covid thing, or is this a period feature as well? I've often wondered what an eighteenth-century performance physically looked like.

[@StevenDevineMusic]

Hello! It was a socially-distanced performance during Covid restrictions

[@evanmisejka4062]

I honestly like period sound better

[@elanejoreserva]

Faultless... Because you're a director or it's your real name?

[@WalterSAllen]

Fortunately there are ways of adjusting the tempo to what might have been an Allegro assai. Suit yourself!

[@veritysprott1547]

Is Steven Devine playing a piano?

[@StevenDevineMusic]

Yes! It's a copy of an instrument from about 1790 from Vienna.

[@matteomagurno3068]

A fortepiano, rather. We now classify these kinds of period keyboards using this term, but not too long they used to be called ‘historical pianos’. Keep in mind that these keyboards (particularly in mozart’s lifetime) have next to nothing in common with the modern piano!

[@duncanfisher2986]

Is a conductor, standing by himself, really a nineteenth-century innovation?

[@espressonoob]

generally yes, up well into the romantic era were composers performing their keyboard and conducting parts.

[@peterdilworth2316]

newer is not always better

[@mattmatsuoka]

It doesn’t look like the fortepiano has any pedals.

[@oae]

The pedals are under the keyboard and are pressed up with the knees.

[@andrewyarosh1809]

The video description’s implication that this is some sort of revelation is misleading . Mozart concerti on period instruments were performed more than 50 years ago by the likes of Paul Badura-Skoda. Some acknowledgement of the predecessors of this performance and the history of Mozart on period instruments would be appropriate.

[@fritzcurzon6792]

collective memory is sadly short term!

[@antoniolorenzoni4617]

Grande Badura-Skoda

[@jakobler3474]

Better than rushing Bezuidenhout

[@UltiametsIgsmas]

All original instruments from Mozarts time, except he’s reading the concerto off an iPad 🗿

[@Menarecuteaaa]

Yes it might be the original instruments, but its dry and lacks emotional output. The emotion it does have doesnt help the sound to be richer and more enticing

[@ThiloAbend]

You are very wrong about that, sadly.

[@bubirsacmalik]

Aykut elmasdan gelenler gelmeden,

[@jefferywyss8740]

tad slow, and bassonist not up to it

[@kurtkohen6668]

great..the ear ring in the ear...uh, primative. Just sayin. Hey, my opinion matters too. Cheers

[@espressonoob]

who cares?