Customer Reviews

Mozart: Overtures

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This collection of 12 of Mozart's opera overtures is a wonderful CD that never wanes in its ability to delight. Although Colin Davis is an accomplished Mozartean in his own right, the Staatskapelle Dresden has the music in its veins and plays each of these pieces to the hilt. Notice the particularly punchy sound the band makes in the overture to Cosi or the fiery string playing in the overture to Figaro. The Sonics are warm, the sound transparent, and the readings are all taken at light-hearted tempos. True, perhaps Don Giovianni is lacking the heavy gravitas of some period instrument recordings and Die Zauberflöte could have a touch more zest, but these small complaints are outweighed by the tremendously thoughtful music making. On a side note, these forces recorded the late symphonies of this composer on Phillips with much success, recordings that continue in the spirit of this CD. Recommended.

This is a half-a-loaf CD that gives us crisp yet affectionate readings of the overtures to Cosi, Figaro, La finta gardiiera, and a handful of other Mozart operas. But not all twelve performances are winners. It's good to have such a complete set on one CD, and Davis has impeccable credentials as a Mozartean. Yet despite the excellent recorded sound and elegant playing from the Dresden Staatskapelle, my interest ffagged. Everything has the same perky bounce, so by the time we get to the Don Giovanni and Magic Flute Over., I was famished for more depth and significance. Klemperer's classic EMI colleciton of Mozart Over. from the Sixties feels much more satisfying, but that's not to disparage Davis's fine accounts here.