Late Mozart Symphony recordings

[stefanher]

I hoped against hope that Levine's new recordings of these would answer my prayers as a recommendable affectionate recording of the above without the soulless vibratoless overdrive which has been imposed on us by the "authentic" movement. Apparently not according the Music Guide- Levine uses a slightly bigger orchestra but otherwise is as inexpressive as any of the likely culprits.

So- is there a modern set that can be placed alongside Beecham & Bruno Walter? Or should I just continue listening to Gardiner & Hogwood & (sadly) MacKerras till I'm brainwashed that that is the "right" way to do things?

[stenka razin]

Sir Charles Mackerras on Telarc is wonderful and inexpensive and a great buy. In fact, the entire Mozart Symphonies come in a small box for about $30 or less.


P.S. At the present time, Amazon is selling this 10 CD Mackerras/Mozart set for the astonishing price of 20$......Yes.....Wow....Grab it while it is still available at this lowball price. You cannot go wrong.

[josé echenique]

I hoped against hope that Levine's new recordings of these would answer my prayers as a recommendable affectionate recording of the above without the soulless vibratoless overdrive which has been imposed on us by the "authentic" movement. Apparently not according the Music Guide- Levine uses a slightly bigger orchestra but otherwise is as inexpressive as any of the likely culprits.

So- is there a modern set that can be placed alongside Beecham & Bruno Walter? Or should I just continue listening to Gardiner & Hogwood & (sadly) MacKerras till I'm brainwashed that that is the "right" way to do things?

It´s not so much the "right way" of performing XVIII Century music, but from what is actually known of how Mozart, Bach, Haydn, etc., played their own music, it´s just that bit closer to what those composers expected. And I don´t understand why vibratoless should be soulless, it´s certainly not.
I have heard so often that if Mozart had heard the modern symphony orchestra he would have loved it. He certainly would have, and he would also have loved TV, movies, plumbing and the IPhone, but the fact is that he never heard the modern horn or steel strings. What I´m sure is that he, with the most extraordinary ear ever, would have composed quite differently for modern instruments, to take advantage of different textures, sonorities and possibilities. And wether you like it or not, the period performance movement brought back Biber, Cavalli, Rameau, Monteverdi and scores of other composers who the modern orchestra just couldn´t do justice to.
If you want great recordings of Mozart symphonies I would recommend the Frans Brüggen recordings with the phenomenal Orchestrta of the XVIII Century. Brüggen is a Mozartean of the highest order, easily in the class of Bruno Walter. And...in period instruments of course.

[stefanher]

I have some of the Mackerras Prague as well as his SCO set- hence the query. Don't know what Bruggen's Mozart is like but if it's anything like his Haydn then I can give it a safe pass.

Looks like I'll have to do what I originally suggested- listen to Gardiner & convince myself that that is the right way to do things & then listen to Walter & let my head rule my heart.

[bombasticDarren]

I enjoy the Harnoncourt set of later symphonies with the RCO

And the Pinnock, Tate and Mackerras complete sets are popular with me too

[Heck148]

So- is there a modern set that can be placed alongside Beecham & Bruno Walter?

I don'tknow. I've not heard one.

I'll stick with Reiner, Walter, Szell, Solti. great Mozart.

[Guitarist]

I hoped against hope that Levine's new recordings of these would answer my prayers as a recommendable affectionate recording of the above without the soulless vibratoless overdrive which has been imposed on us by the "authentic" movement. Apparently not according the Music Guide- Levine uses a slightly bigger orchestra but otherwise is as inexpressive as any of the likely culprits.

I recently bought Levine's set and I thoroughly enjoy it! I must admit that I'm not the world's biggest Mozart fan, but Levine and his orchestra provide plenty of power and poetry where required--the 41st seems especially grand. The sound is extremely clear, too--one has a front row seat! I wouldn't mind a bit more hall sound, though.

[Chalkperson]

Mackerras on Linn...or his complete traversal on Telarc satisfy me...

[val]

The new recordings that I listened were a disappointment, in special Rene Jacobs (38 & 41).

And I never liked the superficial version of Hogwood. Neither Harnoncourt or Gardiner.

For the moment, I don't see a real alternative to Bruno Walter, Szell, Beecham (41) and Giulini (40, 41).

[rogch]

I would definitely check out Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. It has very few of Harnoncourt's famous mannerisms. I often like those, but there aren't too many of them here. The big exception is symphony no. 40 which is played VERY fast. Bot in other sy.mphonies there are moderate tempi and the orchestral sound is as good as it gets.

If you by "modern" mean good recorded sound Karl Böhm and the Berlin Philharmonic should be very satisfying. Benchmark performances. And i would also check out Anima Eterna and Jos van Immerseel. They play on period instruments, but the performances sound less dogmatic than some other "HIP" performances. Having said that i often like those interpretations. But they can take a while to get used to and it can be a good idea just to listen and not read too much in the often dubious booklet notes.