Customer Reviews

Mozart: Adagios

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD includes some of Mozart's most sublime work. Like most compilations, each piece on the CD exists out of context, which sometimes feels awkward. Also, some of the performances are not up-to-snuff. In particular, the flute and harp concerto (K.299) is clunky and strangely juxtiposed with an outstanding performance of the K.622 clarinet concerto. I was also a bit disappointed with the metronomic performance of the K.361 adagio, which is among my favorite pieces of music. This CD is outstanding as background music - it's simply lovely, but it's not particularly good listening for the serious Mozart fan.

Though this is not a CD set to "seriously listen to Mozart", it is perfect to put on while doing anything from housework to sitting around watching the grass grow. With one glorious melody after another, one is flooded with its beauty; there are few melodies that can top track # 2, the Andante from Piano Concerto 21, the "Elvira Madigan" theme, except for many of the other twentyone excerpts that for the most part, are well performed, with some that are exceptional.

Vladimir Ashkenzy is the pianist in four pieces, and is wonderful in all of them, as is clarinetist Gervase de Peyer in the K622 concerto and the excepts from Horn Concertos # 2 and # 3, with Barry Tuckwell as soloist.
The Concerto for Flute and Harp K299 might sound a little thin to some, but this is perhaps because of the antique instrumentation. The Academy of Ancient Music, under the baton of Christopher Hogwood, have been pioneers in recording with period instruments.
I'm particularly fond of Mozart's solo piano pieces, and three selections are included, played by award-winning Hungarian pianist/conductor Andras Schiff.

The packaging for these 2 discs is minimal, but the music is a nice bargain. You get miles of Mozart (playing time for Disc One is 74'25, Disc Two 71'30), with many great artists performing these soft and exquisite pieces; it makes me think of a box of assorted musical truffles, a delicacy for the ears, and a balm for the soul in the noisy world most of us live in.

This 2-CD reasonably priced compilation has a number of the greatest adagios Mozart composed, performed by some of the greatest conductors and musicians in the world. Mozart was such a prolific composer of incredibly beautiful music in his short 35 years that one can easily imagine a second 2-CD set of his adagios in this series. The quality of the performances and the sound quality of the recordings on both CDs are outstanding.

The selections of adagios are a representative sampling of many of Mozart's most well-known and greatest compositions. Although the selections come from a large variety of works, they flow smoothly from one to the other. The adagios from the piano concertos performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy, the other piano selections, performed by Andras Schiff, the violin adagio performed by Joshua Bell, and the adagio from the Clarinet Concerto performed by Gervase de Peyer, are absolute musical heaven. Then again, all of the selections are outstanding.

This is wonderful music to listen to either casually or seriously, either while doing something else, or while focusing only on the music and its beauty. If you are looking for other excellent CD compilations of Mozart adagios in addition to this one, I also highly recommend "Mozart for Relaxation" on RCA, and "Mozart for Meditation," on Naxos.

This is a very nice CD, it has a good selection of music, and it's very relaxing. The only problem I have with it is some of the recordings are so-so. I also noticed a small little mistake in one of the recordings, not of the song itself, but of some bad timing of whoever recorded it or edited the recording. At the end of the Horn Concerto on the first CD, which is the last one of that CD, if you listen very very carefully, you can hear the first split-second of the next movement in that concerto. It is very small and hard to notice, so it does not reduce the value of the CD; I thought I'd just point out that little "easter egg" mistake.

great collection for a super price. the selection is a compilation of the nicest music Mozart has composed. I have hundreds of CD and this will be one of my favorite.

These two CD's are among my favorites...The greatest composer, the greatest music, the greatest performers all on two CD's. The selection of slow movements really helps you concentrate, relax, study, paint, draw, write, or just immerse yourself in the supreme beauty and art of these masterpieces!

I have other performances of most of these selections, but the performances on this CD are just amazing, they shed new light on the music I thought I knew. Ashkenazy just brings out the best in Mozart's piano concertos, Joshua Bell on the violin, Schiff and the piano sonatas...you get the picture. Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra's version of the 40th symphony's second movement sounds very rich. Thank you Mozart. Highly recommended!