BaL 23.11.24 - Mozart: Symphony 40 (in G minor, K550)

[smittims]

There's a lovely rehearsal disc where Herbert rehearses the Berlin Phil for their 1972 EMI recording: he gets the divided violas to play it the opening bars very slowly and gradually speed up. It's a good example of his ear for detail and his patience in getting just what he wants. .

[Pulcinella]

The Naxos Wordsworth version I have is in a 5CD set called 15 Famous (Mozart) Symphonies.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Famous-Symphonies-Barry-Wordsworth/dp/B0000275UA/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aqwQpjkpVK0aPBTL-ik2veNqINxVmqfycOmzauW__E029F3z8hu3GmsdS7u9V6T0L2sjX8F-4PPspLrH9GuKzLKNG6CKHhKLJazY6ulPbnZyimkMTOPwx1Y0q_REwUCJO9yAIr774TeJR4YE9npdPtQaaibI0Yi5sIiUyf4VykU4PfvOHKMYEiR4kYBYUZtTsnovMcHz8MbGYKsG7wFgUp1jWpUu7P6qQG8QlEUrjlw.Sl-STa6gL_T1fszFk1qAG6MjiJXpUqyPYHPbJby9gQk&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mozart+famous+symphonies&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731695866&sr=8-1

Which are the infamous ones, I wonder.

[LMcD]

The Naxos Wordsworth version I have is in a 5CD set called 15 Famous (Mozart) Symphonies.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Famous-Symphonies-Barry-Wordsworth/dp/B0000275UA/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aqwQpjkpVK0aPBTL-ik2veNqINxVmqfycOmzauW__E029F3z8hu3GmsdS7u9V6T0L2sjX8F-4PPspLrH9GuKzLKNG6CKHhKLJazY6ulPbnZyimkMTOPwx1Y0q_REwUCJO9yAIr774TeJR4YE9npdPtQaaibI0Yi5sIiUyf4VykU4PfvOHKMYEiR4kYBYUZtTsnovMcHz8MbGYKsG7wFgUp1jWpUu7P6qQG8QlEUrjlw.Sl-STa6gL_T1fszFk1qAG6MjiJXpUqyPYHPbJby9gQk&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mozart+famous+symphonies&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731695866&sr=8-1

Which are the infamous ones, I wonder.

No. 37?

[smittims]

I love to play those symphonies where Mozart's authorship is 'doubtful' in varying degrees, trying to decide for myself whether they are really his or not. Of course some of them are well worth hearing in their own right, whoever wrote them , a favourite of mine being the symphony in B flat, K Anh. 216, C 11.03, which is even excluded from the extensive EMI set of 51 symphonies conducted by Jeffery Tate. It's in the Pinnock and Hogwood sets.

A previous Naxos survey of Mozart Symphonies , by the Northern Chamber Orchestra and Nicholas Ward , fine performances I often return to, contented itself with the 'Breitkopf 41', including the notorious nos. 2,3 and 37.

[LMcD]

I love to play those symphonies where Mozart's authorship is 'doubtful' in varying degrees, trying to decide for myself whether they are really his or not. Of course some of them are well worth hearing in their own right, whoever wrote them , a favourite of mine being the symphony in B flat, K Anh. 216, C 11.03, which is even excluded from the extensive EMI set of 51 symphonies conducted by Jeffery Tate. It's in the Pinnock and Hogwood sets.

A previous Naxos survey of Mozart Symphonies , by the Northern Chamber Orchestra and Nicholas Ward , fine performances I often return to, contented itself with the 'Breitkopf 41', including the notorious nos. 2,3 and 37.

I much enjoyed last Wednesday's lunchtime concert up the road (it's a 15-minute walk), when Nicholas was joined by his sister Hattie and violist Robert Smissen in a wonderful performance of K563. We're very fortunate to have such fine musicians performing regularly 'on our doorstep' (although Nicholas usually has to come from London).

[smittims]

Indeed , its' good to know they're active. Recent years have damaged many a career.

[MickyD]

I believe that the Hogwood set (19 cds) contains the most of the doubtful symphonies and I agree, in performances like these, they are especially well worth hearing.

[smittims]

[pastoralguy]

Bump!

[jonfan]

Absorbing and top class BAL.

[Pulcinella]

For once, I listened, and agree with jonfan.

Here are details of the 'winner', which I'll add to the OP.

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 40 & 41
NDR Radiophilharmonie, Andrew Manze

• Release Date: 8th Feb 2019
• Catalogue No: PTC5186757
• Label: Pentatone
• Length: 74 minutes

[silvestrione]

Absorbing and top class BAL.

Yes, it was absorbing and illuminating (though in the 3rd movement I preferred Berstein!)

[jonfan]

An incredibly quiet audience, taken from 4 ‘live’ performances in 2017 according to the album booklet.
I’ve always looked on the Mackerass as my ‘go to’ version but I can hear that very careful search for perfection in the studio can miss the urgency and life of a live performance as exemplified by Manze and his players.

[MickyD]

I was truly amazed to hear how dismissive Nick Kenyon was of earlier HIPP recordings such as the pioneering Hogwood. I realise things have changed since then, but even so, this was quite some change of heart on his part.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was truly amazed to hear how dismissive Nick Kenyon was of earlier HIPP recordings such as the pioneering Hogwood. I realise things have changed since then, but even so, this was quite some change of heart on his part.

A Damacene conversion ? It was a very good BAL in terms of constructing an arguement . The only problem is the Manze performance leaves me completely cold and all the things he heard in it I couldn’t hear . Greatly preferred the Mackerras.