COMPOSERS: Mozart
LABELS: Virgin
WORKS: Violin Concerto No. 1; Violin Concerto No. 2; Violin Concerto No. 3; Violin Concerto No. 4; Violin Concerto No. 5; Rondo in B flat, K269; Rondo in C, K373; Adagio in E, K261
PERFORMER: Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie/Christian Tetzlaff (violin)
CATALOGUE NO: VCD 5 45214 2
Mozart wrote all his five violin concertos in 1775, when he was 19, probably for the later Konzertmeister (leader) of the Salzburg orchestra, Antonio Brunetti. Mozart himself also performed them. The music is characterised by immense vitality and brilliance in the outer movements (of which the most famous is the ‘Turkish’ finale of No. 5), balanced by ravishingly beautiful slow movements.
This disc also includes all Mozart’s single movements for violin and orchestra. The Rondo in C, K373, is from the Vienna period and was played by Brunetti in a concert for Archbishop Colloredo’s father, Prince Rudolph Joseph. Brunetti found the slow movement of No. 5 not to his taste and asked Mozart to write another, which he did (Adagio in E, K261, 1776), whereas the Rondo in B flat (K269) is considered to be a substitute finale for Concerto No. 1, K207.
Unless you absolutely insist on a period orchestra and soloist, this new set is to be recommended totally. Using a Stradivari violin from 1713, the young German violinist Christian Tetzlaff gives sensitive and (as the mood requires) brilliant performances. His intonation is impeccable, his bowing technique beyond reproach, and he leads the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie with zest and precision. The recording is superb: by any standards a memorable set. HC Robbins Landon