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When I was in college I was fortunate enough to come to know chamber music played in a chamber. What was by day a Mediterranean architecture student lounge became on Sunday evenings a music room where one sat an arm’s reach from the players and shared music with them. This video brought back memories of those wonderful evenings. Granted that the beautiful marble panelled hall here seats several hundred, but the close video direction gives the proceedings that same intimacy I remember. No fancy pictures of flowers or sunsets, we just sit here and watch the music being made, shifting our gaze from one to the other of the musicians, whose intense commitment and exceptional skills are very much in evidence.

These works were written by Mozart while he was working on Nozze di Figaro, on commission from the Viennese publisher Hoffmeister, but when the first proved not successful due to its serious tone and technical difficulties, the second was not published in Mozart’s lifetime. Zacharias has made his reputation previously as a fine Mozart pianist who produces a clear, expressive, authentic sound with a modern piano. The others play facing each other and play to each other as well as to the audience. The occasional friendly wink or smile reinforces their obvious friendship and delight to be working together. The producers have given us a very clear picture and brilliantly clear sound, the audience is very quiet, and the experience is extremely enjoyable. All that being said, this is a very, very good but not legendary performance of this music. These are young people, and perhaps when they are older they will find just a little more in the music. But in the meantime this DVD will give us many hours of enjoyment.

Paul Shoemaker

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