Customer Reviews

Mozart: Symphonies 28-41 [United Kingdom]

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

 

 

Sir Colin Davis's LPs of Mozart Symphonies were landmarks of the analog era. Encountering his digital recordings of these works for the first time here, I can only say that he has surpassed himself. For one thing, the Staatskapelle Dresden is a better orchestra than he ever has recorded Mozart Symphonies with. The sound engineering, varying over a ten year period, is always full toned and in general is very good. These are definitely performances you would want to live with. I was comparing them with Klemperer's 4 CD set of Mozart Symphonies, and found Davis's superior in every respect. The first thing you will notice is that the sound of the orchestra is loud and robust, much more so than we are accustomed to hearing in Mozart since the period instrument revolution. Davis himself recorded four of the symphonies with a chamber orchestra in the early '60's, but here that is all in the past. Davis also takes a number of repeats that he omitted before, altogether to the better I think. As for individual performances, the Jupiter is a virtual recap of his earlier interpretation with the BBC Symphony, while 29 still echoes his 1958 version with the Sinfonia of London. The performances of 36, 38, and 39 all surpass the earlier versions in their color and sensitivity. One of the marvels in this box is how Davis's tempi are perfectly calibrated to reveal the slightest detail in the orchestration, without ever sacrificing momentum. This is a seminar in Mozart conducting. The new additions to Davis's recorded canon, such as the Haffner, are equally successful. Given the period instrument rebellion against these kinds of performances, this may not be the first place you should turn for these works. But at some point in your search for the true Mozart, you will have to encounter these discs.

Anyone who heard the marvelous Staatskapelle Dresden knows what a potential this orchestra has to perform Mozart's symphonies. Add Sir Colin Davis and you have a real poetical diamond at your hands.

With great anticipation I heard this collection, and I was blown away. The sound is first class and the playing is so crisp and spacious, you don't want it to end. All of the well known symphonies receive masterly care, which brings out all of the orchestration elements. There are wonderful surprises as well such as the 32nd symphony I heard for the first time.

In one word: wonderful!

I can't recall the period in which the classical recording industry became Olympian and a bit over-sexed. Most of us can't imagine any papparazzi in hot pursuit of Sir Colin; yet he is one of the most consistently fine interpreters of Mozart on record. In particular, his renditions of Mozart operas are spontaneous, faithful, balanced and well-cast. His COSI FAN TUTTI remains an all-time love.

THIS collection, except for the quality of certain source recordings -- some warm, others too resonant -- are terrific, spirited performances delivered in a beautifully designed, compact box set. It's the set I'd recommend to anyone who wants to discover the core of Mozart's symphonic output at a super-bargain price, delivered with panache.

Davis is a bit stronger in the 30's and in 41, but so was Mozart. His signature orchestra plays in the manner so many of Sir Colin's orchestras do. They sound modern, but still capture the tempi, the cadence and feel period orchestras often generate.

There is plenty of joy in store, and very little risk here.