COMPOSERS: Mozart
LABELS: Philips
WORKS: Symphony No. 36 (Linz); Symphony No. 38 (Prague); Symphony No. 39; Symphony No. 40; Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)
PERFORMER: Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner
CATALOGUE NO: 438 332-2 ADD (2 discs) (1971/79/80)
Mercurial Mozart from Marriner and the Academy, the sole drawback being the division of No. 39 across two discs. The digitalised sound is spectacular – the finest example of remastering I’ve heard to date. The performances are masterfully conceived, scrupulously executed, powerful, yet always dignified, as befits the final trilogy especially. The Linz Symphony has grandeur and elegant good humour, but with Marriner there’s mystery too, in the searching and majestic slow introduction of Symphony No. 38. Even if you already have these symphonies on CD, you shouldn’t miss out on this release. Altogether outstanding, and with Philips offering the two CDs for the price of one, an irresistible bargain. Michael Jameson
Mozart: Symphony No. 36 (Linz); Symphony No. 38 (Prague); Symphony No. 39; Symphony No. 40; Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)
Mercurial Mozart from Marriner and the Academy, the sole drawback being the division of No. 39 across two discs. The digitalised sound is spectacular – the finest example of remastering I’ve heard to date. The performances are masterfully conceived, scrupulously executed, powerful, yet always dignified, as befits the final trilogy especially. The Linz Symphony has grandeur and elegant good humour, but with Marriner there’s mystery too, in the searching and majestic slow introduction of Symphony No. 38. Even if you already have these symphonies on CD, you shouldn’t miss out on this release.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:36 pm