Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lambert Orkis - Mozart - The Violin Sonatas (4CD Box) (2006)

Have you ever noticed how some performers' performances are inextricably linked to their images? How Leonard Bernstein's hyperbolic performances are inextricably linked to his hyperbolic image? How Vladimir Horowitz's flamboyant performances are inextricably linked to his flamboyant image? How Anne-Sophie Mutter's narcissistic performances are inextricably linked to her narcissistic image?

Take as an example Mutter's 2006 recording of Mozart's sonatas for piano and violin. Beyond all argument, Mutter is a truly an amazing violinist. Her tone is lush, polished, and deep. Her technique is impeccable, imperious, and incandescent. Her interpretations are impulsive, passionate, and powerful. But her performances virtually ignore the music and instead focus on selling the sheer physical beauty of her own playing. In an Allegretto grazioso, Mutter is far too forward in her phrasing. In an Andante cantabile, she is much too seductive in her grace notes. In a Tempo di Menuetto, she is way too sensual in her accents. For Mutter, Mozart's music seems to be an ornament to her playing, not the reason for it. There have been many recordings of Mozart's sonatas as beautiful as Mutter's -- Grumiaux's with Klein and Szeryng's with Haebler come first to mind -- but few that are so narcissistic. Deutsche Grammophon's sound and Lambert Orkis' accompaniments are very flattering to the soloist.