Mozart: Piano Concerto Nos. 14 & 15 - Menahem Pressler, Vienna Chamber Orchestra

PIANO CONCERTO No. 14 in E-FLAT MAJOR, K. 449
1. Allegro vivace
2. Andantino
3. Allegro ma non troppo

PIANO CONCERTO No. 15 in B-FLAT MAJOR, K. 450
1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Allegro

MENAHEM PRESSLER, Piano 
Vienna Chamber Orchestra 
EDGAR SEIPENBUSCH, Conductor

Mozart, as one of the finest pianists in Vienna, was very much in demand between 1782 and 1786. He was frequently called upon to play at the concert of a friend, or asked to give a recital of his own. On March 3, 1784 he wrote to his father:
  "You must forgive me if I don't write very much, but it is impossible to find time to do so, as I am giving three sub Scription concerts in Trattner's room on the last three Wednesdays of Lent, beginning on March 17th. I have a hundred subscribers already and shall easily get another thirty. The price for three concerts is six gulden. I shall probably give two concerts in the theatre this year. Well, as you may imagine, I must play some new works –therefore I must compose. The whole morning is taken up with pupils and almost every evening I have to play… But I must tell you quickly how it has come about that all of a sudden I am giving private concerts. Richter, the clavier virtuoso, is giving six Saturday concerts in the said room. The nobility subscribed, but remarked that they really did not care much about going unless I played. So Richter asked me to do so.  I promised to play three times and then arranged three concerts for myself, to which they all subscribed."