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Track Listings
| 1. Symphony No.29 in A major, K.201 - I. Allegro moderato, II. Andante, III. Menuetto, IV. Allegro con spirito |
| 2. Symphony No.31 in D major Paris, K.297 - I. Allegro assai, II. Andantino, II. Andante (alternative 2nd movement), III. Allegro |
| 3. Symphony No.32 in G major, K.318 - I. Allegro spiritoso, II. Andante |
| 4. Symphony No.35 in D major Haffner , K.385 - I. Allegro con spirito, II. Andante, III. Menuetto, IV. Finale Presto |
| 5. Symphony No.36 in C major Linz , K.425 - I. Adagio allegro spiritoso, II. Adagio, III. Menuetto, IV. Finale presto |
Product Description
Review
Following up their acclaimed 2008 Linn release of Mozart’s final great quartet of symphonies (its accolades include BBC Music Magazine Disc of the Year), Sir Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra have turned their attentions to five of Mozart’s most substantial earlier essays in the form.
The same ingredients which made the previous release such a success abound again, but whereas the later symphonies come up against formidable competition in the catalogues, there is arguably even more call for these less-familiar works to be given the sparkling Mackerras/SCO treatment.
For many listeners the combination of a buoyant, historically-informed approach with the sumptuous, lithe sound of a crack modern-instrument band is a winning one – the best of both worlds. Never less than honeyed in tone, the strings use vibrato sparingly, as a subtle colouring device rather than a wearisome all-purpose wash. Speeds are consistently spritely (but never gabbled), textures are wonderfully clear, wind and brass vibrant. Repeats are taken routinely.
Each of the disc’s five symphonies is a gem in its own right, milestones in Mozart’s increasing maturity and confidence. Nearly a decade separates the beguiling, urbane No.29 from the dazzling ‘Linz’, No.36 – a seminal period in which Mozart experienced musical wonders on journeys to Mannheim and Paris, and finally broke free from the shackles of court employment in parochial Salzburg to settle as a freelancer in the thriving hotbed of artistic creativity that was late 18th century Vienna.
In between is the ebullient No.31, the ‘Paris’, the small-but-perfectly-formed No.32 and the joyous ‘Haffner’, No.35. Ever the pragmatist, Mozart made various revisions to most of these symphonies after their composition. Most notable is the replacement Andante written for No.31 after the original proved unsuited to Parisian tastes. You can decide for yourself which you prefer – but be wary of simply playing the tracks in sequence or you will end up with a four-movement symphony with two slow movements, certainly not what Mozart intended.
The ever youthful 84-year-old Mackerras offers unique insights from a lifetime’s devotion to Mozart, lavishing these magnificent works with as much love and commitment as he would later, ‘greater’ scores. The glorious results are self-recommending. --Graham Rogers
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Review
Mackerras has an unparalleled feeling for Mozart style, in the bracing allegros as much as the slow movements and minuets, and you really sense these performances taking off, in a way that leaves other interpreters sounding heavy-handed. --Financial Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Another splendid recording of Mozart symphonies from MacKerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Informed by period instrument practice, the playing is wonderfully alive, but also has power. The sound is excellent too. At a price of under £10 from Amazon for a double CD, it is good value too. I notice too that the reviews in "The Gramophone" , "BBC Music Nagazine" and "The Scotsman" are all full of praise. However, one might quibble slightly at having barely 2 hours of music, where many CDs now have between 70 and 80 minutes. There would surely have been room for one more symphony, and that would have been a wonderful bargain.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is just stunning stuff.
Hot on the heels of last year's multi award-winning set of Mozart's last four symphonies, Mackerras has delivered another little belter.
These readings are alert, buoyant, vital and simply crackling with energy. There is an obvious emphasis on the dance elements in the music and there is not a dawdle to be found anywhere - though refinement, thankfully, is preserved throughout. (Anyone who prefers their Mozart with much lace and wiggery should most certainly look elsewhere). Mackerras moves the music along at a fairly brisk rate but never does he over-drive it or lose touch with its inherent poise, shape - or humour. This is invigorating, joyful music-making of the highest order and simply demands that the listener sit up and take notice.
The combination of natural horns and trumpets with a modern band playing in scrupulous period style works brilliantly once more, delivering a slightly raw freshness/tang without sacrificing the overall tone of the orchestra. The SCO plays out of its collective skin (yet again!) handling the brisk tempi so skilfully that they make it seem easy and there is no loss of control or delicacy anywhere. (One wonders, though, whether any of the wind players needed replacement lips by the end of the sessions...)
Linn's recording is another peerless job - I don't have a high-end SACD deck (I wish!..) but even so, the recording has a firm, rich tone right across the spectrum and provides just the right amount of reverb/bloom whilst preserving detail, clarity and depth.
My one cavil concerns the presentation of the Paris Symphony (No 31) on Disc one. There are two alternative slow movements for this work and both are included here - so ticks in the box all round for that - but why, oh why, do they both have to appear between the outer movements? Surely it would have been better to include the additional movement after the last (third) movement of the symphony. Call me old-fashioned but if I'm listening to a symphony I would just like to be able to do that - listen to it (all of it!) without having to mess about choosing a second movement half-way through.
That said, it's a small thing and doesn't detract from my (pretty obvious) enthusiasm for this extraordinarily good set - and at the price, Dear Reader, it's an absolute steal!
Hot on the heels of last year's multi award-winning set of Mozart's last four symphonies, Mackerras has delivered another little belter.
These readings are alert, buoyant, vital and simply crackling with energy. There is an obvious emphasis on the dance elements in the music and there is not a dawdle to be found anywhere - though refinement, thankfully, is preserved throughout. (Anyone who prefers their Mozart with much lace and wiggery should most certainly look elsewhere). Mackerras moves the music along at a fairly brisk rate but never does he over-drive it or lose touch with its inherent poise, shape - or humour. This is invigorating, joyful music-making of the highest order and simply demands that the listener sit up and take notice.
The combination of natural horns and trumpets with a modern band playing in scrupulous period style works brilliantly once more, delivering a slightly raw freshness/tang without sacrificing the overall tone of the orchestra. The SCO plays out of its collective skin (yet again!) handling the brisk tempi so skilfully that they make it seem easy and there is no loss of control or delicacy anywhere. (One wonders, though, whether any of the wind players needed replacement lips by the end of the sessions...)
Linn's recording is another peerless job - I don't have a high-end SACD deck (I wish!..) but even so, the recording has a firm, rich tone right across the spectrum and provides just the right amount of reverb/bloom whilst preserving detail, clarity and depth.
My one cavil concerns the presentation of the Paris Symphony (No 31) on Disc one. There are two alternative slow movements for this work and both are included here - so ticks in the box all round for that - but why, oh why, do they both have to appear between the outer movements? Surely it would have been better to include the additional movement after the last (third) movement of the symphony. Call me old-fashioned but if I'm listening to a symphony I would just like to be able to do that - listen to it (all of it!) without having to mess about choosing a second movement half-way through.
That said, it's a small thing and doesn't detract from my (pretty obvious) enthusiasm for this extraordinarily good set - and at the price, Dear Reader, it's an absolute steal!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Lovely CD set of some of Mozart's greatest symphonies (not quite the greatest as they're on the sister set to this collection!). I have many recordings of these works and each conductor and orchestra has something to offer but these are wonderfully played and recorded and come highly recommended. At the price, a fantastic bargain.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
a fantastic recording
i have many cd recordings of mozarts music --this one tops them all.
outstanding,buy it,you will not regret i promise
outstanding,buy it,you will not regret i promise
Published 14 months ago by Mr. D. Harber
Modern Mozart
More still than in the later symphonies , these recordings bring Mozart lots of fresh air .It is like opening the windows on a beautiful day in the Spring , when the cherrytree is... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Luc Colpaert
Average Mozart
I am not sure what to make of these discs since I fell asleep while listening to them. I have an SACD player but did not really notice much difference in the sound from a typical... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Fen Country
Great performances
I find these performances to be the best overall that I have heard. The instruments are consistently well balanced and layered. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mike Davey
We'll Miss Sir Charles!
These superb performances make you realise how much we will miss Sir Charles Mackerras. They bring out all aspects of this wonderful music in an entirely natural way -ideal for... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Alexander
Buona registrazione, buona interpretazione
Questi due CD sono ben registrati,l'esecuzione e l'interpretazione
parteggiano per l'ipotesi "aggressiva" in maniera molto positiva. Read more
parteggiano per l'ipotesi "aggressiva" in maniera molto positiva. Read more
Published 18 months ago by limabo
Top stuff
As said elsewhere, good ol' dinki di Oz Chuck Mackerras pulls it off again. At an age when the rest of us would be contemplating old folks' homes, Sir Charles produces a series of... Read more
Published on 11 April 2010 by Teemacs
Historically Informed, smooth sound
Not having a SACD player, I can only comment on the CD tracks. These are Historically Informed performances and have a definitely smoother, richer sound than, for example, Trevor... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2010 by Emteq
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