Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K491

“Pollini's sound is thrillingly clean and pure, with an edge and life to it that counterbalances the solid performance that he encourages from the Vienna Philharmonic, directing from the piano. The A Major's delightful opening movement is fresh and refined, as he gradually reveals more complex, exciting depths. The C Minor is a dark and fine contrast, its big, troubled opening given anguished, storm force treatment by the Vienna Philharmonic.” The Times, 17th May 2008 ****

“Evgeny Kissin: truly one of the elite.” Gramophone Magazine

“This second instalment of Imogen Cooper's Mozart series with the trim and personable Northern Sinfonia juxtaposes the two climactic concertos of 1786: the sombrely dramatic C minor, and the Olympian C major. Perhaps K503's opening movement lacks something in majesty, for all Cooper's beauty of line and subtlety of colouring. But the finale is well-nigh ideal in its mingled grace and energy, its central oboe-piano love duet phrased with exquisite tenderness. Cooper finely balances passion and lyrical pathos in the outer movements of the C minor and distils a rarefied simplicity in the Larghetto, with delicately judged touches of ornamentation.” The Telegraph, 21st June 2008

“It was a bold gesture on the part of the talented German pianist Martin Helmchen to make his recording debut with two of Mozart’s piano concertos, particularly when so many other performers in the same situation would have opted for less mainstream repertory. But Helmchen’s decision is strongly vindicated by performances that show him to be a highly sensitive performer with a wonderfully limpid piano tone that is almost ideal for Mozart. BBC Music Magazine, December 2007 – ***** Sound