Vol. 3 The Complete Piano Concertos / Die Gesamten Klavierkonzerte / Concertos Pour Piano - Edition Integrale: No. 16, K.451 • No. 17, K.453 • No. 18, K.456 • No. 19, K.459 • No. 20, K.466 • No. 21, K.467

Released in 1984 by CBS Masterworks, this collection represents the third volume of Murray Perahia's acclaimed traversal of Mozart’s piano concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra. Recorded between 1975 and 1983, the project is widely regarded by critics as a benchmark for Mozart interpretation. Perahia, serving as both soloist and conductor, aimed for a chamber-music transparency that allowed the interplay between the piano and the orchestra to remain intimate and balanced, shunning the more grandiose, heavy-handed approach that had characterized many mid-century recordings.

The production design reflects the minimalist, professional aesthetic favored by CBS Masterworks in the 1980s, prioritizing clarity of information and consistent branding across the multi-volume set. Perahia’s approach to these specific concertos—ranging from the extroverted brilliance of K. 451 to the dark, dramatic intensity of the D minor Concerto, K. 466—was celebrated for its tonal elegance and intellectual rigor. The release was a critical success, solidifying Perahia’s reputation as one of the premier Mozartians of his generation and maintaining its status as a foundational reference for classical piano enthusiasts.