I'd always heard that Curzon was a fine Mozartian, however on all the occasions that I've heard his recordings, I'd been disappointed. Unfortunately, this live recording does nothing to change my initial impression. The Barenboim-Curzon partnership is a poor one, and there appears to be no clear common conception with regards to performing Mozart. This is a case where opposites fail to attract. The B-flat concerto is no less uninspiring. The tempo is too slow to bring out Mozart's charm and playfulness, but is also too slow to convey depth or poetic fantasy. This is stuffy Mozart, which gives academic interpretations a poor reputation.
