Concerti N° 24. C Minor = C-moll = Ut Mineur, K.491 / N° 14. E Flat = Es-dur = Mi Bémol, K.449

Released in 1978 under the CBS Masterworks label, this recording features American pianist Murray Perahia performing two of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s piano concertos alongside the English Chamber Orchestra. As part of Perahia’s ambitious project to record the complete Mozart piano concertos, this entry pairs the dramatic and darkly hued Concerto No. 24 in C minor with the more lighthearted and technically demanding Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major. The recording was captured at Abbey Road Studios in London, reflecting the meticulous production standards CBS employed to elevate Perahia’s nuanced, transparent interpretations of the classical repertoire.

The album serves as a definitive example of Perahia’s early mastery of the Mozart canon, showcasing his ability to lead the English Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard—a technique modeled after the performance practices of Mozart's own era. Upon its release, critics lauded the recordings for their structural clarity and the exquisite balance between the soloist and the ensemble. The design, typical of CBS Masterworks' late-seventies aesthetic, utilizes a clean, understated cover layout that directs full focus to the complexity of the musical scores contained within, cementing its status as a staple for collectors of mid-century classical keyboard recordings.