Customer Rating: 
Summary: Lack of Variation Does Not Bother Me
Comment: I don't usually post reviews here on amazon but this set deserves an exception. I shopped very carefully to find the "best" of the complete sets (shelling out $80 requires some attention to detail). After reading various reviews and sampling every recording I could find, I purchased this set.
Before I begin, I should say I don't believe that any performance of classical music is "definitive." There are good recordings and bad recordings, yes, but among the good ones, it is often difficult to decide which is the "best." I usually aim for an excellent sound coupled with a solid and moving interpretation of the work. For Mozart's piano concertos, there are several sets which contain both, with the individual recordings varying in the finer things.
For this particular performance, Perahia is all about tone, and keeping it perfect. Some may criticize this set for sounding "all the same" or lacking in variation, but this does not bore me or present much of a problem. When its played as beautifully as this one can never have too much. Still, if you are looking for a little more interpretation to "jazz up" the recordings, Brendel's set may be for you. I prefer this less romantic venture which focuses solely on the music. When I listen to one of these concertos I don't feel that I hear Murray Perahia playing, because he doesn't embellish or add anything. He just makes the music sing beautifully, and though I never like seeing the words "this is how the composer would have played it" (especially on Chopin reviews) I often feel that I'm hearing Mozart himself joyously run along the keys while conducting the instrumentalists.
The English Chamber Orchestra, which has performed this work with several other prominent pianists, sounds flawless and dances beautifully alongside Perahia's sweeping fingers. I cannot stress enough how clear this sound quality is: I've grown accustomed to muffled or muted piano sounds from various other cds and so was very pleased to hear this recording sound as great as it does. The playing is lighthearted and quick: some have expressed that it is a little boring but as I said above: lack of variation does not mean lack of excitement or interest.
A word for those who may be considering purchasing a much cheaper 2-disc set containing only the "major" concertos: the lesser known ones are just as good as the later ones! I found the first four concertos to be so melodic I spent a week listening to only them! There is certainly something to be said when listening to a piece of music for the first time, and this set gives you the opportunity to do just that and go far beyond the 6 or 7 that are heard everyday.
All in all, a purchase I am very glad I made, and one that continues to be listened to. A worthy purchase for anyone looking for a clear recording of Mozart's concertos performed in a very solid and classical way.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Sublime performances
Comment: I actually have two sets of the complete Mozart concertos with Murray Perahia,in addition to a number of individual performances by pianists such as Serkin, Barenboim, Rubinstein, Andsnes, Pollini, etc. etc. The first set I acquired did not have the 2- and 3-piano concertos; the second, more recent set, does include them. The combination of Perahia and Lupu is sublime - certainly two of the finest Mozart performers today.
In particular, Perahia's performance of the 9th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th are not to be outdone by anyone. And the English Chamber Orchestra is probably the best chamber orchestra in the world today.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A classic set
Comment: In the world of classical music, Mozart's 27 piano concertos stand among the greatest pinnacle works for the genre. Among the legenday recordings, Murray Perahia's are considered by many professionals and amatuers alike to be among the finest readings. Sets like this are a superb investment for a lifetime of enjoyment and marvel.
While most are familiar with the "Great Piano Concertos" that Mozart largely wrote towards the end of his Vienna heydays, I was surprised at how delectable the early concertos were even though they are less complex compositions than the later masterpieces.
Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra bring out the galante charm of these pieces. In the famous c-minor and d-minor works, there are certainly more "ominous and thundering" recordings - Malcom Bilson and the English Baroque Solists come to mind - but Perahia and the ECO bring a consistent lithe and fluid progression to each piece. It is magnificant music on all levels.
The sound quality is quite good with the piano sounding exceptionally sparkling and pefectly balanced. The orchestra was recorded a bit on the restrained side which was fine with me as I prefer concertos that have less dynamic range. It is good but just shy of the brilliance and clarity of the best modern DDD recordings. But, the piano is wonderfully recorded and can be heard in great detail - especially vital for students.
This is a landmark CD set of timeless music that is a fine investment in the musical history of the western world. Is it "the best?" Who knows as there is really no such measure in music.... Compositions - 5 stars; Performance 5 stars; Sound quality - 4.5 stars.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: OUTDATED 100% ANALOG RECORDING - see MOZART THE PIANO CONCERTOS(BOX SET) by RUDOLF BUCHBINDER & VIENNA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Comment: As this listing states, Mozart The Complete Piano Concertos [BOX SET]
by Murray Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra IS OUTDATED 100% ANALOG RECORDING from the 1970s and 1980s that was remastered in 100% digital.
AVAILABLE on AMAZON.COM is a SUPERIOR 100% DIGITAL CD SET RECORDING - MOZART THE PIANO CONCERTOS(BOX SET)by RUDOLF BUCHBINDER & the VIENNA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (performed and recorded 100% DIGITAL in 2007)
LIST of ALL PIANO CONCERTOS composed by WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
The Mozart piano concertos are a set of 27 concertos for piano and orchestra written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart between 1767 and 1791. These works, many of which Mozart composed for himself to play in the Vienna concert series of 1784-86, held a special place for him. The first four numbered concertos are early works (Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4) and the movements of Mozart's concertos are arrangements of Mozart's childhood arrangements were keyboard sonatas by various contemporary composers (Raupach, Honauer, Schobert, Eckart, and C.P.E. Bach). Concertos 7 and 10 are compositions for three and two pianos respectively. The remaining twenty-one Mozart piano concertos are original compositions for solo piano and orchestra. Among them, fifteen were written in the years from 1782 to 1786, while in the last five years of his life Mozart wrote just two more piano concertos.
CHILDHOOD PIANO CONCERTOS
No. 1 in F major, K. 37
No. 2 in B flat major, K. 39
No. 3 in D major, K. 40
No. 4 in G major, K. 41
Three Concertos after J.C. Bach, K. 107
SALZBURG PIANO CONCERTOS
No. 5 in D major, K. 175
No. 6 in B flat major, K. 238
No. 8 in C major, K. 246
No. 9 in E flat major, K. 271 (Jeunehomme)
CONCERTOS FOR TWO AND THREE PIANOS
No. 7 in F major for 3 Pianos, K. 242 (Lodron)
No. 10 in E flat major for 2 Pianos, K. 365
EARLY VIENNA CONCERTOS
No. 11 in F major, K. 413
No. 12 in A major, K. 414
No. 13 in C major, K. 415
MAJOR VIENNA PIANO CONCERTOS
No. 14 in E flat major, K. 449
No. 15 in B flat major, K. 450
No. 16 in D major, K. 451
No. 17 in G major, K. 453
No. 18 in B flat major, K. 456
No. 19 in F major, K. 459
No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
No. 21 in C major, K. 467
No. 22 in E flat major, K. 482
No. 23 in A major, K. 488
No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
No. 25 in C major, K. 503
LAST PIANO CONCERTOS
No. 26 in D major, K. 537 (Coronation)
No. 27 in B flat major, K. 595
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best, but not all there is
Comment: I will just repeat all the praise from the other reviewers, it's a great, great set. HOWEVER, it doesn't have ALL Mozart's piano concertos---almost no sets do. Mozart "wrote" 3 concertos for harpsichord, collectively known as K. 107, which are actually arrangements of other composers' music. Perahia recorded these with piano and English Chamber Orchestra on CBS (probably Sony now) MK 39222. Also, Mozart's Piano Concerto #7 for 3 pianos K. 242, and Piano Concerto #10 for 2 pianos K. 365 are not included, but you can get Perahia playing them with Radu Lupu and the English Chamber Orchestra on Sony SK 44915. [They play the 3 piano concerto in Mozart's own arrangement for 2 pianos.] So any Mozart completist who wants the remaining concertos performed by these same forces will have to supplement with these two extra discs.
But back to the set in question: No doubt about it, I like Perahia the best. Brendel is a little finicky and Marriner who accompanies him is a little too business like for me. Ashkenazy is beautiful, sensitive, and has a wonderful orchestra, but I sometimes question his cadenzas. I don't like Uchida, too Dresden china sounding, and don't like any versions played with fortepianos and original instruments.
Speaking of cadenzas, Perahia plays Mozart's, except as follows: He plays his own cadenzas in Concertos 1, 2, 4, 5, 20 (third movement), 21 (first movement), 24, 25, 26, and Rondos K. 382 and K. 386. He plays Beethoven's cadenza in 20 (first movement). He plays Artur Balsam's cadenza in 6. He plays Rudolf Serkin's cadenza in 21 (third movement). He plays Hummel's cadenzas in 22. Mozart did not write down cadenzas for all his piano concertos, so in some cases they have to be supplied by the pianist.
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