Christian Zacharias, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausann - Mozart : Piano Concertos Vol 9 (2012) [SACD]

The cycle continues to shine glory on Mozart’s music.
In common with all except that noted in Volume 8, Zacharias’ cycle is pleasingly consistent & combines many of the compelling features of HIP-aware performance without dispensing with the beauty & tonal lustre that modern instruments have given this repertoire. Throughout tempos are relaxed (never too much) & yet Zacharias in both his playing & conducting keeps the music moving thanks to the infectious rhythmic lift he invests in each phrase.
Possibly a little too much relaxation in the opening of #12 (Zacharias is over a minute slower than the account here: Mozart: Piano Concertos Vol. 1 – Brautigam, Willens) has Zacharias flirting dangerously with tedium but the characterisation of the playing never allows the playing to slip the wrong side of the boundary. In fact, it is appealing that the relatively junior work is invested with as much time & care as the later works, here & in other volumes. A particular highlight is the depth of emotion that Zacharias gets from the shortest movement (the Larghetto to the “Coronation” concerto) without transfiguring into a Romantic-lite work.