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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Mozart, February 14, 2001
This review is from: Major Symphonies 13-36 38-41 50-52 (Audio CD)
I have lived with the Wordworth's discs (Naxos) for several years and although the symphonies are played and recorded well, they are more serviceable then performances of real distinction. I never really enjoyed his performances of # 40 & 41. So my choice was Mackerras on Telarc or Tate on EMI. I sampled many movements from the Mackerras set and found them too brisk and breathless. There is more to Mozart than metronome markings and fleet acrobatics. I opted for the Tate set and from what I have heard so far, I am glad I did. Tate's performances are wonderfully crisp in the outer movements and unhurried in the slow movements. He does caress the music but with out ever being sentimental or over "romanticing" as the big band performances of the 60's (Karajan et al). Tate has the essence of these works and the performances sound and feel perfect. These performances point the listener to the music, to Mozart, and not to an idiosyncratic conductoring style. This is wonderful music played with all the joy, drama, humor, and eloquence that these works contain. There is great clarity in these performances but also the needed weight that the later symphonies require. Excellant disks.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An unparalleled best buy, June 23, 2000
This review is from: Major Symphonies 13-36 38-41 50-52 (Audio CD)
This is a nearly complete survey of the Mozart symphonies and is a collection of all the recordings Tate made with the English Chamber Orchestra for EMI. However the indiviual discs were sold at full price while you now get the whole lot at less than bargain price per disc! This really is a steal. The sound is outstanding and the playing is a joy - uncluttered details and polished ensemble are the hallmarks of every performance. Although modern instruments are used there is the unmistakable clarity one associates with period chamber ensembles but without the jarring abrasive tonal quality of period instrumemts that preclude prolonged listening. Tate is also quite generous with the repeats in the outer movements of the symphonies. Buy it!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful recordings!, August 27, 2000
This review is from: Major Symphonies 13-36 38-41 50-52 (Audio CD)
This is a superb set of 31 of the most important of the Mozart symphonies- it is not a complete set in that many of the earliest ones are not included. That being said, the performances by Tate and the English Chamber Orchestra of the major Mozart symphonies are superbly done, with all the nuances and subtleties one could want in a Mozart performance. The chamber orchestra setting brings out all of the instrumental voices, the sound quality is excellent, and pacing is just right. I've found many other performances to be too rushed, or too slow. Of particular note in this set are #29,31,34,36,38,and 40. But all the perfomances capture the essence of Mozart's magnificent music. Highly recommended at a bargain price!
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