Mozart Symphonies favorite recordings

[Tyson]

I just picked up the Mackerras set of 38-41 w/the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and I think it's my new reference. HIP influenced performances, great recorded sound, and a real feel for the dramatic and the melodic in this music.

Also picked up the Thomas Fey recordings for 39 and 41. Not bad, again HIP type performances, but these I found a little too pretty for my preferences. I like Mackerras better because it's firmer; Mozart with a spine.

 

[DarkAngel]

Those do sound great!
Linn Records

But if you really love those..............think how much you might like the MacKerras/SCO Beethoven set also

 

[Tyson]

Yep, it's only a matter of time till the Beethoven set is mine also

 

[analogbox]

While most of these mention sets are great (I like all of them for different reasons), I'd also recommend Jane Glover and the London Mozart Players. Jane Glover does magic at tempo and it just flows naturally, though sometimes lacking in passion.

 

[classicalguy]

If he likes mozart, and doesn't have many recordings, the $100 brilliant classic complete mozart set is hard to beat. Jaap ter Linden conducts the symphonies - period performances in very good sound. That basically pays for the entire set (pretty close). Some of the opera performances are great - Mackerras doing the magic flute (a telarc recording), and Kiujken's Cosi Fan Tutti is really outstanding. It's a steal for $100, and would make a very nice gift for someone just starting their collection. I have yet to listen to the entire set, and there are some things I'm not crazy about, but it's a great deal and a lot of fun.

 

[Tyson]

Immerseel's 2 disc set of the last 3 Mozart Symphonies came. Nice, fleet performances, typical Anima Eternal sound. Doesn't work quite as well in 39 or 40, which really need more beauty of tone to work, but in #41 the performance is a great one. Overall does not displace Mackerras as my reference, but worth it for the performance of #41 alone.

 

[DarkAngel]

Tyson
Do you see why I am a bit puzzled with the energetic performances by Immerseel with late Mozart......why are his Beethoven 1-3 symphonies somewhat lackluster by comparison?

He should have hit those out of the park with his background

 

[Tyson]

Yes, he's too fast and astringent in Mozart, and too slow and small scale in Beethoven. Reverse those approaches and he would have hit BOTH sets out of the park

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson /img/forum/go_quote.gif Immerseel's 2 disc set of the last 3 Mozart Symphonies came. Nice, fleet performances, typical Anima Eternal sound. Doesn't work quite as well in 39 or 40, which really need more beauty of tone to work, but in #41 the performance is a great one. Overall does not displace Mackerras as my reference, but worth it for the performance of #41 alone.

I didn't care for those recordings at all. I was surprised because I usually love period instrument performance but these were just not on the same level as some of the earlier offerings.

edit: Sorry, but I was not referring to the symphonies but to the recordings of "The last concertos" with Staier and the Freiburger Baroque orchestra.

 

[I-Love-Music]

I bought the "Mozart best 100" set when I was in France, they sound fabulous!

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson /img/forum/go_quote.gif Immerseel's 2 disc set of the last 3 Mozart Symphonies came. Nice, fleet performances, typical Anima Eternal sound. Doesn't work quite as well in 39 or 40, which really need more beauty of tone to work, but in #41 the performance is a great one. Overall does not displace Mackerras as my reference, but worth it for the performance of #41 alone.

Again, for period instrument performance, the recent Tafelmusik cd of the symphonies 40 and 41 is terrific. Probably among the best HIP Mozart I've heard. I like them better than Minkowski's recent recordings as well.

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnyears /img/forum/go_quote.gif Again, for period instrument performance, the recent Tafelmusik cd of the symphonies 40 and 41 is terrific. Probably among the best HIP Mozart I've heard. I like them better than Minkowski's recent recordings as well.

Tafelmusik still a bit pricey used, but did place order for used Minkowski/Archiv at Amazon

(the cover art with red arrow is one of the worst I have seen)

Waiting for MacKerras/SCO to arrive..........

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tafelmusik still a bit pricey used, but did place order for used Minkowski/Archiv at Amazon (the cover art with red arrow is one of the worst I have seen) Waiting for MacKerras/SCO to arrive..........

I bought both this and the Tafelmusik Beethoven symphonies when they came out last year. They were far from pricey. I'll bet they are more expensive because the US dollar is so low against the Canadian dollar.

In any event, I found the Minkowski a bit disappointing. Masolino liked it very much, though.

 

[classicalguy]

To make it interesting, what is your favorite Mozart symphony? Is everyone going to say 40 or 41?

 

[davidhunternyc]

I have four different recordings of Mozart's Requiem. This is my favorite orchestral work of all time. I have read all the naysayers saying that this is not Mozart's best because it wasn't finished before he died and Susmayr's completion is less than perfect. So I have heard many revisions completed by contemporary composers and to my ears, I find them worse than Susmayr's. For me, Susmayr's is still the best. And to me the best recording is by Ricardo Muti with the Berliner Philharmoniker recorded in 1987. Even the reviewers who dislike this version all agree that the choral sections are without parallel. Also, the Lacrimosa is the most melancholic, elegant, and beautiful I have ever heard. I have listened to this 1000 times and I still cry whenever I hear it. This recording is warm, elegant, and romantic. In contrast, John Eliot Gardener's version uses period instruments and supposedly period timing. It sounds to me like the piece is played using a metronome. It is more analytical and I appreciate being able to hear the instruments singularly. But Ricardo Muti's recording fits the spirit of the Requiem like no other. I have to say it is one of my favorite recordings of all time. I bought this CD when it first came out but for the sake of your request I also found it on Amazon. It was recorded in 1987 but was imported in 1990.