Mozart - Symphonies 14-18 (1990)

Sir Charles Mackerras conducting the Prague Chamber Orchestra.

Five brief Mozart symphonies, written during the six months between December 1771 - May 1772, when Mozart was aged 15 - 16 years old. Early Mozart symphonies are rarely performed live but are often recorded as part of a series of recordings (or box set) that covers Mozart's entire output of symphonies (usually counted as 41, but there's doubt about symphonies numbered 2, 3 & 37, which are often considered as being of spurious authenticity).

The symphonies presented here are good, not great, especially when compared to Mozart's later, more mature works. These play more like theoretical studies, as in Leopold giving his son an assignment to write in the style of Bach. Still, there's no denying that Mozart was born with a gift for melody and, on occasion, he'll do something new and different harmonically. Certainly better than anything I was writing at 15 (and 25, 35, 45...).

However, if you want to hear the master's earlier works, either as serious historical music study or for shits and giggles, you could do worse than these recordings. According to the music critic of the Los Angeles Times in 1991:

Perhaps the most purposeful, consistently satisfying Mozart symphonies being recorded these days come from Sir Charles Mackerras and the modern-instrument Prague Chamber Orchestra on the Telarc label.

The latest installments of this nearing-completion series offer the works numbered 14 through 18, K. 114, 124, 128-30 (Telarc 80242); 19-23, K. 132-34, 162, 181 (80217); and Nos. 32, K. 318, 35, K. 385 (“Haffner”) and 39, K. 543 (80203).

The buoyancy and clarity of Mackerras’ fast-paced interpretations--the minuets really fly--are constants, as is the sweetness of string tone that marks the slow movements.

Telarc’s sonics are as problematic as earlier in the series: Why use a smallish band to achieve clarity of texture and then place them in a huge hall which disperses their sound? That complaint registered, Mackerras’ Mozart remains highly recommended.

Agreed, but remember I'm a member of the shits and giggles crowd these days.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart.

Tracks:

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Requiem, K 626 (1992)
Horowitz Plays Mozart (1987)
Serenade in B flat, KV 361 "Gran Partita" (1984)
Requiem, KV 626 (1983)
Mozart Overtures (1982)