Leopold Mozart: Die Bauernhochzeit, Musikalische Schlittenfahrt, Sinfonia burlesca

This is a very nice, simple CD. It's value is markedly historical, but nevertheless the music is good to listen to. The Ensemble Eduard Melkus plays authentic instruments, which adds fullness to the sonic experience. And precisely, due to the comments written by the author himself, we know how he thought of his instrumentation for the enjoyment of the pieces.
On Josef Starzer 10 Dances, I cannot say much; they are simple, enjoyable, unpretetntious, but well finished.
A Galleria ARCHIV CD.

Leopold Mozart

• Sinfonia "Bauernhochzeit", D
1. Marcia villanesca
2. Menuett
3. Andante
4. Menuett
5. Finale. Molto allegro
• Musikalische Schlittenfahrt, F
1. Intrada
2. Andante
3. Presto
4. Intrada
5. Schlittenfahrt
6. Andante, sempre piano: Das schüttelnde Pferd
7. Aufzug
8. Allegro
9. Intrada
10. Schlittenfahrt
11. Adagio: Das vor Kälte zitternde und schnatternde Frauenzimmer
12. Des Balles Anfang: Menuett/Trio
13. Deutscher Tanz I. Presto
14. Kehraus. Allegro
15. Pianissimo
16. Deutscher Tanz II
17. Kehraus. Allegro
18. Intrada
19. Schlittenfahrt
• Sinfonia burlesca G
1. Sinfonia
2. Hanswurst (Menuett)
3. Il Signor Pantalone (Andante)
4. Arlecchino (Allegro)

Josef Starzer

• 10 Tänze
1. Contredanse
2. Gavotte - Trio
3. Pas de deux
4. Menuett
5. Gavotte - Trio
6. Moderato
7. Gavotte
8. Menuett - Trio
9. Gavotte - Trio
10. Passepied - Trio

Wilhelm Kempff: Great Pianists of the 20th Century

This CD from Philips Great Pianists of the 20th Century is the second of a 3 part view of Wilhelm Kempff, as chosen by Alfred Brendel, who admired Kempff.

I would have to agree that Michael Steinberg, whose comments appear in the accompanying booklet, that Kempff is particularly simple (I would add sober) in all these interpretations.

I, and now I am sure I am being shallow as my opinion contradicts Brendel's, did not like this CD. CD-2 I do not foresee me listening to, and CD-1 I am sure I can find more pleasurable (at least to my ear and experience) versions.

Regardless, this CD comes quite recommended elsewhere.

CD 1 Franz Schubert Piano Sonata in Am, D845 Moderato Andante, poco mosso Scherzo, Allegro vivace Rondo, Allegro vivace Beethoven Piano Sonata in Em, Op.90 Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen Mozart Piano Concerto #23 in A, KV 488 Ferdinand Leitner/Bamberger Symphoniker Allegro Adagio Allegro assai

CD 2 Franz Liszt Deux Légendes Saint François d'Assise: la prédication aux oiseaux Saint François de Paule marchant sur les flots Années de pèlerinage Première année: Suisse excerpts (7, 2, 4) Deuxième année: Italie excerpts (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) JS Bach + Kempff Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 Jesus bleibet meine Freude (from BWV 147) Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (from BWV 140)

Wilhelm Kempff (Centurion)

This is a somewhat reknowned CD by Centurion Classics, that albeit being very cheap has great masterpieces by Mozart and Beethoven, but played by magnificent Wilhelm Kempff.

Such depth in interpretation, with softness or anger, speed and expression. It is difficult (at least for me) to imagine a better one.



You may buy this CD for Kempff's piano interpretation, either Mozart's and/or Beethoven's Concerto (or Sonata), or the price... for any of these reasons you would have done right.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20	D minor	K. 466	Dresdner Philharmonic, Paul van Kempen (director)	recorded 1941
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3	C minor	Op. 37	Dresdner Philharmonic, Paul van Kempen (director)	recorded 1942
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 24	F sharp major	Op. 78		recorded 1932

Brautigan: Mozart Complete Piano Sonatas

This CD set is amazing. Ronald Brautigan plays each note with such respect. Every note, every phrase. With this quality, it seems that the pianoforte's weaknesses are actually strengths. The phrasing is so superb, it is almost like listening to your lover whispering your favorite love-poem.

Beautiful technique, softness, and intention. This expands on what one could expect from Mozart works, and certainly raises the bar for new recordings.
A BIS recording on a 1992 (Paul McNulty) replica of a 1795 fortepiano by Anton Gabriel Walter.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Piano Sonata No. 1	in C major	K. 279 (K. 189d)
Piano Sonata No. 2	in F major	K. 280 (K. 189e)
Piano Sonata No. 3	in B flat major	K. 281 (K.189f)
Piano Sonata No. 4	in E flat major	K. 282 (K. 189g)
Piano Sonata No. 5	in G major	K. 283 (K. 189h)
Piano Sonata No. 6	in D major	K. 284 (K. 205b)
Piano Sonata No. 7	in C major	K. 309 (K. 284b)
Piano Sonata No. 9	in D major	K. 311 (K. 284c)
Piano Sonata No. 8	in A minor	K. 310 (K. 300d)
Piano Sonata No. 10	in C major	K. 330 (K. 300h)
Piano Sonata No. 11	in A major	K. 331 (K. 300i)		"Alla Turca"
Piano Sonata No. 12	in F major	K. 332 (K. 300k)
Piano Sonata No. 13	in B flat major	K. 333 (K. 315c)
Fantasia for piano	in C minor	K. 475
Piano Sonata No. 14	in C minor	K. 457
Piano Sonata	F	K.533/494
Piano Sonata No. 15	C	K.545		"Sonata semplice"
Piano Sonata No. 16	Bb	K.570
Piano Sonata No. 17	D	K.576		"Trumpet", "Hunt"

Mozart: Piano Concertos 2/9

How rich are Mozart piano concerti. The alternation of forte and piano, and solo and orchestral passages. Interesting march tempo theme in No.26.
Brilliant Vol. 2 CD 9.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Piano Concerto No.18	Bb	KV 456
Piano Concerto No.26	D	KV 537		Coronation Concerto

Mozart: Symphonies 1-11

Beautiful, lively, crisp,... sincere. Even though it is such a well-known pair of works, this version, in Brilliant's Vol.1 CD 11, still manages to surprise the listener.
Jaap Ter Linden conducts the Mozart Akademie Amsterdam.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony No.40	Gm	KV 550
Symphony No.41	C	KV 551		Jupiter

Mozart: Piano Concertos, II-8, KV 466 & KV 482

Beautiful way to return. Brilliant's Vol.2 CD8, Piano Concerto No. 20 and 22.
Soft yet vigorous interpretation, with a small Orchestra for better degustation. What lyricism in the piano line of KV482, accompanied by the flute for emphasis on a light-hearted interpretation. The theme of the 3rd movement is just so catchy, that it makes it one of the best works to involve children in classical music.
Derek Han, piano. Paul Freeman directs the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Piano Concerto No. 20	Dm	KV 466
Piano Concerto No. 22	Eb	KV 482

Mozart: Symphonies 10

These are refined but too tamed, or (and I insist from last Mozart symphony post) have I become numb ? Brilliant's box CD 1-10.

Mozart Akademie Amsterdam
Jaap ter Linden

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony #38	D	KV 504		Prague
Symphony #39	Eb	KV 543

Mozart: Symphonies I/9

I believe that either I am becoming numb or this is too known. But I have not much to say.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony 31	D	KV 297		Paris
Symphony 36	C	KV 425		Linzer
Symphony 40	Gm	KV 550		First version without clarinets

Dinu Lipatti: Bach, Mozart, Scarlatti, Schubert

This CD has been praised so heavily, it was a must-have. And certainly it did not fail to the expectations created.

How sweet was the decrescendo in the sixth movement of the partita.

Beautiful "Jesus bleibet meine Freude" and the sonata for flute & harpsichord #2. Especially in the latter, how beautiful the transcription made by Kempff, that one can distinctly listen the flute in the piano.

Wow! Such a carefree playing of Mozart's Sonata #8 in Am.

The sound of the 1957 recording, that is Schubert's, is a bit too muted, and is the least giving, perhaps for being live. Yet, it is amazing how Lipatti plays each style so distinctively. And how tender and lovingly, yet seemingly carefree, he interprets each.

These recordings were done in 1950, 51 and 57, and they are so clear, a CD by EMI Classics.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Partita #1	Bb	BWV 825	Bach	1950
Choralvorspiel		BWV 599	Bach	1951, "Nun komm', der Heiden Heiland" (arr. Busoni)
Chorale Prelude		BWV 639	Bach	1951, "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ" (arr. Busoni)
Cantata		BWV 147	Bach	1951, "Jesu bleibet meine Freude" (arr. Hess)
Sonata for flute & harpsichord #2		BWV 1031	Bach	1951 (arr. Kempff)
Sonata	E	Kk 380	Domenico Scarlatti	1951
Sonata	Dm	Kk9	Domenico Scarlatti	1951, "Pastorale"
Sonata #8	Am	K310	Mozart	1951
Impromptu	Gb	D.899 N.3	Schubert	1957
Impromptu	Eb	D.899 N.2	Schubert	1957

Oistrakh: Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Prokofiev 2/2

What a lovely interpretation by David Ositrakh and Pierre Fournier. It is the second disc of the EMI Classics, double forte, that has Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3.
Full of passages from where to make postcards, I loved especially the theme for the 3rd movement, Vivace non troppo - Poco meno allegro, directed by Alceo Galliera and the Philarmonia Orchestra. In the first movement, just after its first third, the intertwining of both soloists, just before the entrance of the orchestra is quite beautiful. It could well be one scene he wanted to capture while he was writing this next to a lake. It resembles to me those little tableclothes that are of picked cotton.
As for Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in Gm, Op. 63, I can say what a graceful interpretation of a bland ouevre. With a comic British ending of the 2nd movement, I cannot say more.
The double forte 2CD edition seems to be out of print, but this is the most similar I found.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Brahms: Double concerto	Am	Opus 102	Oistrakh(violin),Fournier(cello)
Prokofiev: Violin concerto #2	Gm	Opus 63

Mozart: Symphonies I/8

Brilliant's CD1-8 sounds like a Mozart that escapes my comprehension, though not my enjoyment. These are courtly and mature. Symphony #33 shows resemblence to what will be #45.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony #33	Bb	KV 319
Symphony #34	C	KV 338
Symphony #35	D	KV 385		Haffner

Mozart Akademie, Jaap Ter Linden

Mozart: Symphonies 1/7

The interpretation of all these pieces is impeccable, with a small orchestra, clear sound and precise tempo. I would call it in my humble ignorance as a neutral interpretation.

Symphony 24 has a beautiful Allegro 3rd movement, that contrasts in creativity with both first movements. Very pleasant to listen.

Symphony 26 is quite intranscendental, not too pleasant nor too tragic.

Unnumbered symphony KV 196 is small, fast, and nice.

Symphony 29 has a famous first movement, which is very enjoyable. Curiously, and I do not know exactly what instrument it is, there is a sound, distinctly heard in the Andante, that is very much like a Glockenspiel.

Symphony 32's Allegro spiritoso sounds so much like Beethoven! The climax is the same, the orchestration. This just reminds me of the piece of information I have heard a couple of times that Beethoven was Mozart's pupil, which as far as I know is false.



Mozart Akademie Amsterdam, Jaap ter Linden

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony 24	B flat	KV 182
Symphony 26	E flat	KV 184
Symphony	D	KV 196
Symphony 29	A	KV 201
Symphony 32	G	KV 318

Mozart: Symphonies 6/1

This is mature Mozart.
Solid melodies, bass melodies, timbral balancing.

Symphony #25 is one of the very very few (2, perhaps?) works composed in minor mode.
To me, it sounds like a hurt but valiant anti-hero, or a rusted magnificence.

This is music to be heard indefinitely.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony	D	KV 111a
Symphony 18	F	KV130
Symphony 19	E flat	KV 132
Symphony 25	G minor	KV 183		very rare, in minor mode !

Mozart Akademie Amsterdam
Jaap ter Linden

Mozart: Symphonies 5/1

Very much like the previous CD 4 in Vol. 1, I think this was much less expressive than what we would expect from Mozart. Yes, it is joyful, but I think it is too courtly. To me it seems that these were just charged work, and delivered.

Mozart Akademie Amsterdam
Jaap ter Linden, conductor

Mozart: Symphonies 4/1

Here distinct intentions are perceived. Military fanfares, playful trivialities as in Symphony 22 Presto assai.
I would say a little bit pretentious lacking substance, but certainly evolving towards the usual (for us these days) Mozart music.

Mozart Akademie Amsterdam
Jaap ter Linden, conductor

Symphony 20 D KV 133
Symphony 21 A KV 134
Symphony 22 C KV 162
Symphony 23 D KV 181

Mozart: Symphonies 3/1

More settled, with complete mozart sound. Especially, track 10 Symphony 16-Andante sounds so much like Eine kleine Nachtmusik.
I am now at a stage, where I start recognizing regularities within an author, and recognizing orchestration subtlities. There will be a time, where I can recognize cross-author theme reuse, for instance.

Mozart Akademie Amsterdam,
Jaap ter Linden, conductor

Symphony 14 A KV 114
Symphony 15 G KV 124
Symphony 16 C KV 128
Symphony 17 G KV 129

Mozart: Symphonies 2/1

Already by now, we can find Mozart behind his work. Distinct orchestration, clear and joyful themes.
Mozart Akademie Amsterdam,
Jaap ter Linden, conductor

Symphony 8 D KV 48
Symphony 9 C KV 73
Symphony 10 G KV 74
Symphony 12 G KV 110
Symphony 13 D KV 112

Mozart: Symphonies 1/1

Many many symphonies by Mozart.

I make a general comment now on KV16,19,19a,22,43,45 (Brilliant's Vol 1-CD1). They are so proper. So honest and straightforward. It causes joy just by itself, without having to "discover" things and intentions. It is the work of a child trying to make his big entrance into the adult's world, to make the father proud. And sure does.


Mozart Akademie Amsterdam,
Jaap ter Linden, conductor

Symphony 1 E flat KV 16
Symphony 4 D KV 19
Symphony F KV 19a
Symphony 5 B flat KV 22
Symphony 6 F KV 43
Symphony 45 D KV 45

Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante & Concertone

Neither caught my ear.

• Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola & orchestra in E flat KV 364
  
• Concertone for 2 violins & orchestra in C KV 190

Gil Sharon, violin
Yuri Gandelsman, viola
Amati Chamber Orchestra, Gil Sharon

Anna & Guido Höbling, violin
Slovak Chamber Orchestra, Bohdan Warchal