Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D, K385 (Haffner); Symphony No. 36 in C, K425 (Linz); Symphony No. 38 in D, K504 (Prague)
Published:
COMPOSERS: Mozart
LABELS: Sony
WORKS: Symphony No. 35 in D, K385 (Haffner); Symphony No. 36 in C, K425 (Linz); Symphony No. 38 in D, K504 (Prague)
PERFORMER: Bavarian RSO/Rafael Kubelík
CATALOGUE NO: SMK 66932 DDD (1982)
Warm-hearted, vigorous Mozart in mid-20th-century style. Kubelík is alert to the sensuality of the sound as much as the clarity of thought, and inspires generous, single-minded playing without either haste or slackness. The Haffner and Prague draw on especially vital funds of energy and, while the Linz is more decorously paced, it remains personal and focused. Period fundamentalists will hate the wonderfully inconsistent policy about repeats, and even I wouldn’t mind harder knocks on the timpani. But as ever with Kubelík, love conquers all. The remastered CBS sound is spacious and bright-topped. Robert Maycock