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

[richardfinegold]

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.

Yes, I never realized how much color there was to be had in Mozart until I heard that Krips/Amsterdam set. Sometimes the HIPP vs traditional forces debate is caricatured as lean, quick low calorie vs fat and overstuffed type of sound, but that stereotype ignores the range of variety to be had in both approaches by various musicians. Krips clearly belongs to the a previous tradition, but the Concertgebouw strings reveal many shades of sound that escape someone like Klemperer, for example. A fantastic late analog recording from that wonderful hall.
worlds

[Mal]

Can't resist chipping in that I posted above that Goltz and Pinnock were my two versions, so probably sorted. I don't have the CD mentioned but Goltz/Freiburg is also on the recommendable Harmonia Mundi Lumières box, now defunct but still available second hand.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musique-Lum.../dp/B005BZBY1I

It's available on Amazon Music Unlimited in HD (CD quality...) But finding it was a serious test of search skills & perseverance! I'll spare you that, it's:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B09MCBKSBZ

P.S. For search geeks - the search was made difficult by there being two copies on Amazon UK, one with an English title, the other French. On an "obvious" search the English title comes up. But you can only actually listen online from the French title!

[Bryn]

I managed to dig out the Lumières box, a strange sort of enlightening 30-CD C18 music sampler. Though not on the same disc, it does contain both K297 and K297b in the Goltz recordings. The booklet notes are considerably more extensive than is often the case with such compilation boxed sets. At less than £1 per disc, it remains something of a bargain. Its one annoyance is that the listing on the back of the box is only selective. Neither of the Mozart works mentioned above makes that listing. You have to consult the booklet or individual disc sleeves.

[Mal]

I managed to dig out the Lumières box, a strange sort of enlightening 30-CD C18 music sampler. Though not on the same disc, it does contain both K297 and K297b in the Goltz recordings. The booklet notes are considerably more extensive than is often the case with such compilation boxed sets. At less than £1 per disc, it remains something of a bargain. Its one annoyance is that the listing on the back of the box is only selective. Neither of the Mozart works mentioned above makes that listing. You have to consult the booklet or individual disc sleeves.

I tried searching for "Lumières box" and some really intriguing looking gadgets appeared! Anyone use a photo soft box? Anyway, found it, I think: "La Musique des Lumières / Music of the Enlightenment"... looks good... thanks for the heads up, Bryn.

P.S. The amazon listing is totally useless! You have dozens of track listings like

1. allegro
2. allegro - adagio
3. allegro

With nary a mention of the piece involved!

[Lordgeous]

I managed to dig out the Lumières box, a strange sort of enlightening 30-CD C18 music sampler. Though not on the same disc, it does contain both K297 and K297b in the Goltz recordings. The booklet notes are considerably more extensive than is often the case with such compilation boxed sets. At less than £1 per disc, it remains something of a bargain. Its one annoyance is that the listing on the back of the box is only selective. Neither of the Mozart works mentioned above makes that listing. You have to consult the booklet or individual disc sleeves.

I bought the Lumières box yonks ago. It looks a terrific reference/collection, and was a bargain as i remember, but embarrassed to say I've not dipped into it yet. Not enough hours in the day!

[edashtav]

Impressive BAL from Dr Simon Heighes, I thought the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra certainly sounded like a worthy winner from the clips he played.
[…]

Yes, indeed, it was an impressive, and informative BaL from Dr Heighes. I learned a great deal about Mozart’s work, HIPP, and the Parisian orchestra used in the work’s premiere. For once, the twofer presentation format was a benefit with Andrew in lively support.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

For once, the twofer presentation format was a benefit with Andrew in lively support.

But the reviewer doesn’t need support. Sometimes the “support” is more like a takeover.

[CallMePaul]

It was obvious from the slow movement onwards Simon Hayes was going to pick the Freiburgers. I just don’t think the string sound and phrase shaping is as good as the SCO under CM and for me the timps over -dominate in an over -reverberant acoustic. Nicely shaped performance though.

I preferred this over the rest of SH's shortlist but... yet again its download only! Why are reviewers encouraged to include download only recordings when, according to the MD of Presto on this programme earlier this year, downloads account for less than 25% of classical sales. Why are companies so keen to withdraw hard copy CDs when these account for over 70% of the classical market? Yes, I am aware that the pop/rock market is different with downloads and vinyl LPs now accounting for the majority of sales, but this is not the case with classical!

[edashtav]

But the reviewer doesn’t need support. Sometimes the “support” is more like a takeover.

True but there’s plenty of ‘form’ for employing two or more critics on radio review programmes : new film review programmes e.g. on Radio 5 use a discussion format.

[MickyD]

I'm probably biased because of my strong allegiance to the Academy of Ancient Music and Hogwood after all these years, but listening to the extracts last night, I still prefer the recorded sound of their version to any of the other HIP contenders.

[smittims]

Yes indeed, a memorable achievement, for which credit goes to Peter Wadland, Morten Winding and all the Decca team. I don't know where they were recorded but I suspect St. John's Smith Square or Kingsway Hall, though the AAM recorded at various churches and halls in the London area..

[Barbirollians]

I found the references to Mackerras as being too square most odd. Every time he played an extract I was struck by how much I enjoyed it.

[MickyD]

Yes indeed, a memorable achievement, for which credit goes to Peter Wadland, Morten Winding and all the Decca team. I don't know where they were recorded but I suspect St. John's Smith Square or Kingsway Hall, though the AAM recorded at various churches and halls in the London area..

They very often recorded at St Jude's, Hampstead and at Walthamstow Town Hall. To me, the discs recorded at St Jude's have the most wonderful space and bloom to them. Happily, a lot of the Mozart symphony series was recorded there, too.

[smittims]

Thanks, Micky. My LPs don't reveal the location; indeed, before Cds it was rare for locations to be given.

S. Jude's has a wonderful acoustic; Chandos have used it quite a bit.

[Nick Armstrong]

the Krips/Concertgebouw radiates geniality.

A revelation when I discovered this set of performances when living in Paris (at the time they were more or less unavailable here, and never talked about - and still don’t seem to be, e.g. in this BAL)

The Mackerras is one of those recordings I’ve tried a few times over the years but never understood why everyone got so enthusiastic about it - it’s fine but… …doesn’t float my boat.

Simon H knows how to do a BAL and this one was a cut above most of late. The selected recording sounded a bit of alright to me, will listen to the complete performance with interest