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MENAHEM PRESSLER 21
What have the sonatas of Mozart contributed to the piano repertoire?
For every pianist they are both a goldmine and a mountain to climb. Rubinstein,
Schnabel, Horowitz and Casadesus all left remarkable recordings of them. When
you listen to them, they speak of philosophy, of love, of life. And they make this
beauty immediately accessible. I tell all my students that learning these sonatas is
an essential stage in their training.
What are their pedagogical virtues?
They are an ideal entry point for learning to ‘speak Mozart’. It’s the most direct
language. Mozart found the most beautiful words for expressing the simplest
feelings. And above all, with this music, I hope my students will become not only
accomplished musicians, but also better human beings.