BaL 22.10.22 - Mozart: Symphony no. 31 in D "Paris" (K.297)

[Darloboy]

Unbelievably, this appears to be the first time that this symphony has ever been covered by BaL. Glad to see some different works being reviewed in this series.

[smittims]

Karl Bohm's set was regarded as a pioneer in its time, because it excluded nos. 2,3, and 37 and included several more recently discovered Mozart symphonies. I was sorry to see that the next DG set, by the Vienna Philharmonic, was noticeably less adventurous in this respect, considering that it was recorded well after the Hogwood/Schroeder, with all the benefit of Neil Zaslaw's scholarship.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Karl Bohm's set was regarded as a pioneer in its time, because it excluded nos. 2,3, and 37 and included several more recently discovered Mozart symphonies. I was sorry to see that the next DG set, by the Vienna Philharmonic, was noticeably less adventurous in this respect, considering that it was recorded well after the Hogwood/Schroeder, with all the benefit of Neil Zaslaw's scholarship.

Yes, the Levine set only included the numbered symphonies (up to 41) and omitted the early 42-47, 55 and unnumbered ones.

[makropulos]

I've several recordings of the 'Paris' Symphony, but only listen to one regularly and with immense enjoyment: SCO/Mackerras on Linn.

[Mario]

I love this symphony! And boy do I need some TLC after THAT match!

Looking forward to this BAL.

[HighlandDougie]

I like Hogwood, but the Krips/Concertgebouw radiates geniality.

Somehow it feels like a guilty pleasure confronted with the likes of Hogwood, Brüggen, Adam Fischer or Mackerras but I often find my hand straying to that Philips box set. Lovely playing in the peerless Concertgebouw acoustic.

[smittims]

Krips used to have a high reputation, especially in his LSO days, but doesn't seem well-remembered now. John Culshaw, apparently a man of strong likes and dislikes, didn't like him at all. Yet Ivan March consistently referred to him as 'genial'.

[gurnemanz]

I have two very enjoyable recordings, neither yet mentioned:

English Concert, Trevor Pinnock (part of Complete Symphonies box)
Freiburger Barockorchester, Gottfried von der Goltz

Goltz has both versions of the slow movement.

[Mario]

I too have only two recordings, neither of which, if truth be told, is altogether satisfactory.

They are

Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana – Arigoni A (a 10-CD box of 55 symphonies on Cirrus Classics, altogether a rather perfunctory affair all round), not listed above, and

Mozart Academie Amsterdam – Linden J T (not much better).

Hence can’t wait for some good recommendations on BAL.

[Alison]

SCO/Mackerras meets every need of mine. Tremendous.

[Bryn]

SCO/Mackerras meets every need of mine. Tremendous.

That's three of us voting for SCO/Mackerras. His Prague recording is good, too, but not quite up there with that with the SCO. 17 years ago, I got the Mozart 250th Anniversary set of the symphonies with Harnoncourt and the RCO in the 31st. This was on the recommendation of Rob Cowan.



Note that, as with several other recordings, it includes the alternative Andante.

[LHC]

Another vote for SCO/Mackerras, and as Bryn says, his Prague recordings of the symphonies are also pretty good.

[gradus]

Krips used to have a high reputation, especially in his LSO days, but doesn't seem well-remembered now. John Culshaw, apparently a man of strong likes and dislikes, didn't like him at all. Yet Ivan March consistently referred to him as 'genial'.

I've still got his Everest/WRC recordings of the Beethoven symphonies with the LSO and very agreeable they are too.

[Mario]

That's three of us voting for SCO/Mackerras.

Hm, maybe I don't need to wait for the BAL programme after all!

[Pulcinella]

Hm, maybe I don't need to wait for the BAL programme after all!

I might: Linn recordings don't seem to be available on Deezer/Sonos.
The only version on my shelves is the cheap and cheerful Naxos conducted by Barry Wordsworth (a conductor I don't often rate that highly, but the Naxos box set of 'Famous Symphonies' seems ok to me).