BaL 30.12.17 - Mozart: Symphony no. 38 in D, K.504 "Prague"

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 18-12-17, 13:21

A quick note to fellow hosts who agreed to "fix" this one for me during my three weeks away.

Thanks to those who agreed to step in, but was able to do it myself, thanks to 4G being available in a remote location in Somerset.

**BBMmk2** · 18-12-17, 13:46

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

A quick note to fellow hosts who agreed to "fix" this one for me during my three weeks away.

Thanks to those who agreed to step in, but was able to do it myself, thanks to 4G being available in a remote location in Somerset.

Well done EA. Many thanks as ever for your sterling work, this year.

This one, I'll be giving a miss!

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 18-12-17, 13:49

Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post

Well done EA. Many thanks as ever for your sterling work, this year.

This one, I'll be giving a miss!

You mean you're not going to join the ding-dong debate about the Prague Symphony's many repeats.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 18-12-17, 14:05

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

Thanks to those who agreed to step in, but was able to do it myself, thanks to 4G being available in a remote location in Somerset.

<phew> Many thanks as always, Alpie - enjoy the three-week break (I presume that - as with Railways - there will be a "reduced service" on the BaL Thread over Christmas?)

My favourite Mozart Symphony, too - and not a Twofer. (And, if TS can be persuaded to put the brakes on his delivery, should be an excellent survey!)

**Alison** · 18-12-17, 14:50

The Uncle Bernie version comes highly recommended if you happen to fancy a live Bruckner 8 as coupling.

Lithe and warm hearted, it’s no sluggish reading.

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 18-12-17, 14:56

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

My favourite Mozart Symphony, too - and not a Twofer. (And, if TS can be persuaded to put the brakes on his delivery, should be an excellent survey!)

The last time TS did a BaL, it was quite good. No gasping, talking over the music, etc.

**Alison** · 18-12-17, 15:01

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

The last time TS did a BaL, it was quite good. No gasping, talking over the music, etc.

Better than quite good I’d say. Expert at identifying the fundamental characteristics of a performance, an essential part of the library builder’s art.

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 18-12-17, 15:38

**visualnickmos** · 18-12-17, 15:49

Wasn't Klemperer, on Testament, the "winner" last time around? Some years ago, I seem to recall.....

**vinteuil** · 18-12-17, 16:08

Originally posted by visualnickmos View Post

Wasn't Klemperer, on Testament, the "winner" last time around? Some years ago, I seem to recall.....

... I wd've thought Klemperer's Mozart very much a specialized taste these days - as a 'historically innarestin' but hardly the 'library choice'.

**BBMmk2** · 18-12-17, 16:11

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

You mean you're not going to join the ding-dong debate about the Prague Symphony's many repeats.

I stay clear from Mozart as much as I can possibly help it! (Probably for my sins!

)

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 18-12-17, 16:18

Originally posted by Alison View Post

Better than quite good I’d say. Expert at identifying the fundamental characteristics of a performance, an essential part of the library builder’s art.

Yes - his writings on Music show that he's very good at this sort of thing. I didn't catch his last BaL, but judging by Alison & Alpie's comments, this should be as good a send-off to the year as the Bruckner #3 was last year!

**jayne lee wilson** · 18-12-17, 16:28

So many wonderful Pragues....!

If I wanted to hear it right now it would be Mackerras in Prague, with the Prague CO (I prefer the spaciousness, resonance and sheer impact of the Teldec sound to the warmth and immediacy of his SCO Linn reading, lovely as that is) or a real Pet Sound, the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto with Peter Maag - a recording which did very well in a Gramophone Collection survey a few years ago....
(Lindsay Kemp's excellent essay (6/2005) didn't pick a winner - his final list included Maag, PCO/Mackerras, Klemperer 2 (Philharmonia '62), ECO/Britten, O18thC/Bruggen, RCOA/Harnoncourt, COE/Schneider and both of Karajan's (Philharmonia or Berlin Phil); with Walter (1936) as the best of the Historicals....).

I've never pursued HIPPS-Mozart as obsessively as HIPPS-Haydn; my impression is that performers haven't either - at least beyond the usual suspects such as JEG or Pinnock, though there was Orchestra Mozart and Abbado in 2008.
I think I became tired of the later Symphonies at one time through early overexposure... time to scan the catalogues....!

Repeats? The music is too exhilarating not to play them - play them all!

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 18-12-17, 16:29

Originally posted by vinteuil View Post

... I wd've thought Klemperer's Mozart very much a specialized taste these days - as a 'historically innarestin' but hardly the 'library choice'.

As I remember it (some years since I heard them) Klemps's Mozart Symphonies were remarkably "forward looking" in this matter - much better than Karajan's, IMO (though Herbie's Prague - which Bernstein regarded as "the finest" - benefits from NOT having a Minuet movement. HvK just couldn't conduct a decent Minuet

). For "big band", 20th Century instruments (and how!) I relish Bernstein with the VPO on DG - zips along, and includes every repeat.

I'm keen to find another HIPP recording; one that's as zesty as the Bernstein - I have JEGgers (a bit fierce) and ter Linden (a bit light). I thought Kuijken had recorded it with La Petite Bande, but if so, I can't find it now.

BaL 30.12.17 - Mozart: Symphony no. 38 in D, K.504 "Prague"

BaL 30.12.17 - Mozart: Symphony no. 38 in D, K.504 "Prague"

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