In every way a wonderful collection, this disc brings together all the solo piano works by Dante Michelangelo Benvenuto Ferruccio Busoni on the subject of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Played by Italian virtuoso
Marco Vincenzi, the program includes Busoni's transcriptions of four orchestral works by Mozart: the Andantino from the Piano Concerto No. 9 plus the whole of Symphonies No. 30 and No. 32 along with Mozart's Adagio maestoso introduction to the work by Michael Haydn once known as Mozart's Symphony No. 37. Also included areBusoni's "studies" after three operas by Mozart: his Giga, Bolero e Variazione that includes a version of the Act III Finale from Le nozze de Figaro; his Variations-Studie nach Mozart, which is essentially a staccato arrangement of the Serenade from Don Giovanni; and his Adagio nach Mozart, which is a rhythmically re-imagined version of a duet from the Finale of Die Zauberflöte. In
Vincenzi's brilliantly played and sympathetically interpreted performances, each work is in its way incredibly effective: the opening Andantino is soulful and thoughtful, the three central symphonies are witty and affectionate, and the three concluding "studies" are literally transformative -- Busoni's fin de siècle take on Mozart's music changes it from the embodiment of the spirit of the enlightenment to the avatar of the spirit of modernism. Recorded in crystalline super audio 5.0 surround sound by Dynamic, this disc is fascinating, even compulsive, listening for anyone who loves either composer.