Wilhelm Kempff plays Mozart Piano Concerto , 1st mvt - Allegro (1970 film footage)

Film footage of Wilhelm Kempff playing the 1st movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto from a 1970 television broadcast with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra conducted by Helmut Müller-Brühl. Like many artists, Kempff could be more at ease when performing in concerts or on broadcasts than in the recording studio - in fact, on at least one occasion he refused to do retakes to address some technical issues in his performance, closing the piano lid and leaving the studio. This filmed performance is a fine example of his most inspired playing. In his 75th year at the time of this broadcast, Kempff gives an emotionally expansive reading of this movement with exquisite tonal colours, fluid phrasing, and incredibly refined dynamic shadings (what a pianissimo!). This video was provided by our friends at Meloclassic, who have issued a 9-CD set of Kempff broadcasts that, like this video, reveal the pianist at his absolute best - to far greater advantage than his studio reco
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