DANIEL BARENBOIM: Mozart piano concerto # 20 in D minor ~ English Chamber Orchestra

1967 ORIGINAL RECORDING Daniel Barenboim, English Chamber Orchestra; K. 466 remastered and revised. Cadenzas; Beethoven ~ arranged by Edwin Fischer Barenboim's earliest achievements as pianist and conductor started around late 1966 when he started his cycle of the Mozart Piano Concertos with The English Chamber Orchestra. No.20 in D minor, as presented in its entirety here, is considered one of the 'highlights' at the time of the cycle. Yes, the recording is a touch dated in terms of sound quality (although subsequent recordings appeared much more 'natural' in terms of balance). However, it is Barenboim at his finest. He plays with conviction, great intonation and superb technical finesse. Barenboim was a bit more romantic in 67' than what he has displayed since, notably with the BPO, but his surety and direct approach are his greatest attributes till this day.