Mozart: Concerto for Two Pianos / Concerto for Three Pianos / Piano Quartet in G minor, K. 242, 365, 478 (Bernstein Century)
Bernstein was not the most natural interpreter of Mozart. His tendency to try to wring the last ounce of expressiveness from every piece of music sometimes worked against Mozart's "classical" grain. This disc, however, offers him little opportunity to misbehave, and he actually delivers fine performances as both conductor and soloist. In the Concerto for Two Pianos, Bernstein accompanies the well-known piano duo of Gold and Fizdale, joining them in the rarely-heard Concerto for Three Pianos. In the Piano Quartet in G minor, he's partnered by members of the Juilliard Quartet. In all of these instances, he proves himself a sensitive and understanding partner, so if the couplings appeal to you (and there aren't that many of these particular concertos), you can purchase this mid-priced disc with confidence.--David Hurwitz