Martin Helmchen, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Gordon Nikolic - Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 13 & 24 (2007) [SACD]

This is the debut album of Martin Helmchen, prize-winning 25-year-old German pianist whose career received a boost when he won the 2001 Clara Haskil Competition. Though opening salvos fired by so many young pianists today often come in the form of Mozart, it can be a risky business; bad Mozart-playing can signal the quick end to a career because the nature of the music exposes so many strengths and flaws. Even now we see so many albums released by “name” piano-players who really don’t have a clue as to how to handle the composer. Helmchen, I am happy to report, has found the key to the puzzle, and acquits himself very well indeed.
Reviews:
“The sound on this issue is sumptuous; you will not hear finer, more articulate clarity in the orchestra on any other recording that I know of and the piano sounds simply marvellous, clean, bold and rich … well worth hearing for those just building a collection or those with 5,000 Mozart concerto discs already in their collection. Unreservedly recommended.” - Fanfare
“It was a bold gesture on the part of talented pianist Martin Helmchen to make his recording debut with two of Mozart’s piano concertos … (his) 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 … there are some beautifully articulated accompaniments, the string tone suitably lean in quality … a highly promising and beautifully recorded disc.” - BBC Music Magazine
Review by Windsurfer October 12, 2007
Performance: 5 Sonics: 5
This one is rather special! Superb sound; and the very nuanced but masculine playing from Helmchen and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra is wonderful! Not a period performance, but like Julia Fischer's Mozart Concertos, this is a period informed performance of the highest caliber.
I was unfamiliar with the concerto #13 and found it to be a joyful experience. The great C minor concerto is authoritatively played and while this disc doesn't completely erase my desire for a Bruno Walter type accompaniment for this concerto, it is a disc I will listen to repeatedly because it is quite compelling!
I actually listened to this first in stereo last night on my upstairs system over the Celestion SL6si loudspeakers. I was quite impressed. But this morning in multi-channel on the big system downstairs, I was amazed at the detail, the spaciousness, the clarity and purity of the piano sound, and the playing of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, to say nothing of the interpretive sophistication and utterly clean articulation of Martin Helmchen!