Collections of Mozart symphonies

[MickyD]

I still adore the Hogwood cycle, for all its rough and readiness. It reminds me of really exciting, happy times when I lived in London in the late 70's and early 80's, with so much going on in the HIP world. The performances and beautiful Decca recordings still hold up well in my opinion. The box of 19 CDs is a bargain, but sadly you don't get all the wonderful notes that went with the original releases.

[pastoralguy]

Apart from Karl Bohm's dirge like first movement of the Symphony No.29, K.201 with Die Berliner Philharmoniker, I can't think of a recording of Mozart's symphonies I dislike. Jeffrey Tait with the English Chamber Orchestras are terrific as are Jane Glover's with the London Mozart Players. I always loved her way with, imho, the most underrated symphony, No.34 which I remember seeing her conduct at the BBC Proms in the 1980's.

And, yes, I love Karajan's Deutsche Grammophon discs with the Berlin Phil. Possibly not to everyone's taste but what orchestral playing! And although James Levine's star is much diminished I still love his Symphony No.25 in g with the Vienna Philharmonic. Again, not to everyone's taste but very dramatic.

[jayne lee wilson]

Mackerras in Prague (cool, dynamic, tightly rhythmical,excellent Telarc spaciousness & acoustical presence), Mackerras with the SCO (softer, warmer, closer, relaxed...)....
Bruggen with the O18thC (Philips, outstanding in 38) ....

Soft spots for: Orchestra Mozart/Abbado (DG), (deep breath) - Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto/Maag (Arts)....
Individual Pleasures....39-41: CMW/Harnoncourt (Sony), (later) O18thC/Bruggen (Glossa), Aussie CO/Tognetti (ABC)....

A richly varied catalogue.... juist pick and choose according to mood, taste, all the usual variables....

I don't listen to much before No.25 (thrilled once with the remarkably fiery mid-50s Klemperer; a symphony used so memorably in Milos Forman's Amadeus (ASMF/Marriner))....
I have intermittent crazes for the later works now, but more usually cleave to the Piano Concertos instead.

[silvestrione]

Another vote for the Orchestra di Padova del Veneto/Maag here.

And I like the Adam Fischer, very much.

[HighlandDougie]

Another vote for the Orchestra di Padova del Veneto/Maag here.

And I like the Adam Fischer, very much.

Oh, now I feel guilty at dismissing it so casually. I didn't much like the recording quality but maybe I was just being contrary. Given the endorsement, I shall go back to it and try again.

[gradus]

Mackerras/SCO suits me. I wish Beecham had been alive when complete sets were first thought of.

[richardfinegold]

Mackerras/SCO suits me. I wish Beecham had been alive when complete sets were first thought of.

Somehow I think that Beecham would have had a dim view of the merit of recording every note of Mozart's pre pubescent musings, but it would have been worth it to hear the bon mot that he would have composed after being requested to undertake such a project

[pastoralguy]

Mackerras/SCO suits me. I wish Beecham had been alive when complete sets were first thought of.

That would have been a LOT of shellac!

[french frank]

Mackerras/SCO suits me.

Just been playing it alongside the Prague version (G minor). The SCO is slightly more 'reined in' at the beginning, which I prefer. Only 10 seconds difference in the Molto Allegro, but I'm always struck by the thought, 'Gosh, they're going at a lick' with the PCO.' Slightly more space and weight to the SCO.

[Stanfordian]

I was of the same opinion - but then I heard these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikolaus-Ha...rt+harnoncourt

Hell HighlandDougie,

That Harnoncourt album is titled 'Mozart's Early Symphonies' although it does contain the middle symphonies as well. Just to be accurate I was really referring to the very early numbers.

[Petrushka]

The only complete set of the Mozart Symphonies I have is BPO/Böhm but I've yet to listen to the bulk of it

Greatly like the Krips with the Concertgebouw on winning form, also Orchestra Mozart/Abbado. Have the SCO/Mackerras but not greatly enthused by it, not sure why.

Really love the VPO/Karajan 40 & 41 in the 1960s Decca recordings box, absolutely gorgeous playing from the VPO. What a shame we didn't get more Mozart Symphonies from them at that time.

[gradus]

Somehow I think that Beecham would have had a dim view of the merit of recording every note of Mozart's pre pubescent musings, but it would have been worth it to hear the bon mot that he would have composed after being requested to undertake such a project

OK I'd settle for 25 onwards, as I think he might have too.

[Barbirollians]

SCO/Mackerras better played and more naturally recorded to my ears than his Prague records.
Columbia SO/Walter
Philharmonia/Klemperer ( the early speedy recordings that appeared on Testament)
Sinfonia Varsovia/Menuhin
Lenny’s vPO 40 and 41 - big band but what playing.

Sir Colin Davis’s Dresden readings are a bit heavy for me nowadays.

[BBMmk2]

As most of you are now well aware, that I’m not a fan of Mozart’s music but i do like the way Mackerras interprets Them. All in the words of JLW.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I started off with the RPO/Beecham CBS/Philips LP collection of 31, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40 & 41. On acquiring the complete Bohm set, I gave the Beecham versions away, and waited for many years for them to reappear on CD. The only downside to Beecham's interpretations are the ponderous minuets. The mono sound is generally good. More recently, I bought the earlier LPO Beecham set.


I never really took to the Bohm set, but I'm not a great fan of the conductor in general. So when I splashed out on the Philips LP "Complete" (not) Mozart set, I was blessed with the Marriner/Krips set of the symphonies. The Krips versions of 21-36,38-41 are excellent, so it was a pity that the later CD Complete Mozart edition dispensed with Krips in favour of newer Marriner versions.


More recently, I bought the DG Vienna Philharmonic Symphony Edition, which included the Levine set of the conventionally numbered symphonies - good performances, but riddled with every repeat (which some will consider to be a good thing).


Of course, if you want the best, it has to be Furtwangler, which I also have, but as he only recorded 2 (two)…