Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41 [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import]

Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Artist, Orchestra, Performer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Sir Charles Mackerras (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Sir Charles Mackerras
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (March 4, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
• Label: Linn Records
• ASIN: B0011J2R0K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,948 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Symphony No 38 in D major (Prague), K.504

2. Symphony No 39 in E flat major, K.543

Disc: 2

1. Symphony No 40 in G minor, K.550

2. Symphony No 41 in C major (Jupiter), K.551

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invigorating new performances, March 7, 2008

By 

Roderick Keech (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41 (Audio CD)

How many times have these works been recorded ? Far too many to easily count is the answer. Yet here, in beautiful SACD Stereo (apologies, I am a self-confessed stereophile), are invigorating new performances of works that have been recorded by all the best orchestras and conductors over the last 50 years.

There are three striking things about this release:

1. The magnificent playing of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra,
2. The inspired and thrilling conducting of Sir Charles Mackerras,and
3. The suburb Linn recording.

Linn, in a amazingly clever marketing move, issue all new releases on multi-format discs, so it doesn't matter what sort of equipment you have, you can play them and have them sound excellent. They are Direct Stream Digital recordings in both multi-channel and stereo SACD format, and HDCD as well. I know of no other record label being so generous (and clever). They are also very competitively priced.

Ultimately, it is the fresh interpretations of these works that will make you want to not only buy this set, but play these Symphonies again and again, with a new ear. Mackerras is truly one of the greatest conductors of Mozart. Here is a wonderful example of inspired partnership between orchestra, conductor and record company.

Thoroughly recommended.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful treasure from Mozart and Mackerras, August 2, 2008

By 

James L. Nuckels "Good Listener" (Dallas TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41 (Audio CD)

What a great treasure Mozart has left us with these four symphonies. Bruno Walter's Columbia recording with the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York of symphony 41 has been a favorite since the fifties. Now I can also enjoy Mackerras' leading wonderful performances of four symphonies in detailed and spacious sound recordings. As an amateur instrumental play I must not comment above my pay grade, but these tempos seem just right. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra plays with great precision and musical feeling. Wonderful detail from all sections of the orchestra is brought out appropriately to contribute to the whole.
A particular pleasure in these performances is the great delicacy of playing from the musicians without loss of any dynamic range or emphasis required by the composer or the conductor. Heartily recommended.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mozart via Scotland, October 16, 2008

By 

Richard Brookes "Rumpled Writer" (San Francisco Bay area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41 (Audio CD)

Forget reading the reviews - get these CDs. All the superlatives in the language can't express the exquisite music that awaits you when you play these recordings. Superb musicians led by an astute conductor whose heart is in it, that is a given. No cerebral Mozart here. The size of the orchestra is just right to clearly display the color and instrumental lines to perfection. If one could hear what Mozart heard in his head when he composed these symphonies, this surely must be it. As to the recording, Telarc move over; there is a new company exceeding the quality of your product in spades. These are the best recordings I have ever heard, and I have heard a lot. I pray that Linn continues to produce these CDs. I am going to keep this short because I want to settle in and listen to these beautiful symphonies again. And again.