32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-buy for the Mozart or period music fan, March 13, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Mozart: The Wind Concertos /AAM * Hogwood (Audio CD)
Quite simply, you haven't heard Mozart's wind concerti until you've heard this recording. This is as close as you can get to hearing the music as Mozart wrote it to be played. For instance, in the oboe concerto, concessions to the period style and Mozart's original score _must_ be made due to the sheer physical limitations of the original two-keyed instrument used in the recording, made in 1783. In the horn concerti, the tone color difference between the stopped and unstopped notes is remarkable; you can't get this kind of drastic effect on a modern valved instrument (although some might wonder if you'd _want_ to get this effect ;). Nonetheless, it provides a unique window into both late 18th century playing style and Mozart's compositional genius.
However, not only do the period instruments do justice to the timbres Mozart himself heard and used, but the use of 18th century original and reproduction instruments allows the _original_ editions of Mozart's music to be used. The ever popular Clarinet Concerto in A was, in fact, written for the deeper ranged basset horn (aka basset clarinet) in A, not a "regular" clarinet. Hence, all editions for clarinet must transpose several passages up an octave to avoid the lower notes of the basset horn not covered by the clarinet. This fundamentally changes the character of whole sections of the piece.
Finally, the musicians in this recording have made conscious choices in playing style not directly dictated by their instruments, from basic articulations and phrasing to trills and slurs, so that they perform the music in period late 18th century style. Those familiar with "modern" appoggiaturas, for instance, might be surprised at how they would have been originally played. All in all, if you like Mozart, you want this recording, even if you already own a modern edition of his wind concerti.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent collection of beautiful works, March 13, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Mozart: The Wind Concertos /AAM * Hogwood (Audio CD)
Hogwood and the AAM offer their usual excellent performances for these beautiful pieces on authentic instruments. The sound quality of the recordings is also excellent.
Mozart's wind concertos are quite relaxing - if you like Mozart's style, you'll like this set.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mozart: The Wind Concertos, January 13, 2001
This review is from: Mozart: The Wind Concertos /AAM * Hogwood (Audio CD)
I am partial to Hogwood and AAM for their interpretations of Mozart's works. The clarinet and oboe concertos with Pay and Piguet in particular are "reference standard" class. The flute and harp are very pleasing to listen to. The horn concerto is the weakest of the three (I'm stilling waiting for another Dennis Brain I guess), but this 3-CD set is still a particularly good value. For example, the single title "Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, Oboe Concerto / Hogwood", is listed by ...... for ....
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