deWaverley wrote:If you say so, but I think it is generally accepted that slipping off the keys and playing wrong notes is probably undesirable, whatever the 'interpretation'. Also 'Fantasia' means that the composer flits from one mood to another within the piece, rather than that the performer turns eighth notes into whole notes, and quarter notes into 16s at will.
Performers, at least those who are alive, play wrong notes from time to time. If you want a perfect performance in that regard then you probably don't enjoy live concerts because you'll waste your time worrying about mistakes. Most, if not all, performers who make CDs get bits and pieces spliced into a one final "performance". In fact most of the current singers have their producers using software which corrects their oh so human occasional pitch problems so that no one hears off pitch singing on a CD these days. This performance was a live, unaltered recording which is quite another thing. I think we are too used to "perfect" because that is what we hear daily.
Better played by most children? Not the ones I've heard. Most are at the stage of fairly mechanical reproduction who might play this piece "correctly". I haven't heard too many (none actually) exceptional children produce an entirely musical treatment.
As to "eighth notes into whole notes...at will"-- it is an interpretation. You can dislike it but that's what it is. If you want a literal playing of each and every note, or you have a rule that a note can only be stretched as far as you think proper and only when you think it is appropriate then I think a MIDI file of the piece should suffice. Sadly.
Good heavens the performance was fun. Mozart was full of fun. 'nuff said.