Monteverdi: Madrigals

When I first started this collection, this box-set was in the first purchase I made. I listened to it, and was bored. Due to methodological discipline, I wanted to publish the corresponding post, so I listened to it again. I AM CURED !!
This is one of the best purchases I have done, and the price is fantastic for such a wonder. Really a little piece of heaven (ok, ok, I take it back).

And well, about getting cured. I recently listened a version of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons that played on some radio station. I was shocked to see that I did not enjoy it. I found fault and lack of brightness and intention throughout. Before, I would have been delighted just to have found it. Alas, civilized music listening has killed the last drop of my innocent self.

CD	Work	Musicians
CD 1	Madrigali erotici e spirituali	The Consort of Musicke
CD 2	Madrigali sui testi del Tasso	Concerto Italian Rinaldo Alessandrini
CD 3	Settimo libro de madrigali (Book 7 part 1)	Ensemble "Concerto" Roberto Gini Cappella Mauriziana Mario Valsecchi
CD 4	Settimo libro de madrigali (Book 7 part 2)	Ensemble "Concerto" Roberto Gini Cappella Mauriziana Mario Valsecchi
CD 5	Scherzi musicali (1632): Lamento d'Arianna Lamento d'Ottavia	Ensemble Arte-Musica Francesco Cera
CD 6	Lamento della Ninfa Combatimento di Tancredi e Clorinda Il Ballo delle Ingrate	Ensemble "Concerto" Roberto Gini

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

Beethoven: Symphonies No.1 & 3

Brilliant finally got out their Complete Beethoven collection. This box has 85 CDs, although I have the 100 CD box with 15 historical recordings.
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur, 1974 recording.
(Interesting slavic theme which I had not noticed before)

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony No.1	C	Op.21
Symphony No.3	Eb	Op.55		Eroica

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

Bach: Sonate e Partite per Violino Solo 2/2

Beautiful! At times it is hard to believe it is a violin solo playing.
Inspirational, energetic yet soothing.
Mark Lubotsky. Violin Guadagnini, 1728.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Partita #2	Dm	BWV 1004
Sonate #3	C	BWV 1005
Partita #3	E	BWV 1006

Bach: Sonate e Partite per Violino Solo I

It has not been as easy as I thought to enjoy all "classical" music. In this case I actually mean baroque which is my favorite hands down. This is the 3rd time I listen to the Sonatas for violin from Bach. I have also listened to the Suites for Cello several times. I can now tolerate their listening. In fact, I can say it is ok.

Mark Lubotsky, violin ( J.B. Guadagnini 1728)

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Sonate No.1	Gm	BWV 1001
Partita No.1	Bm	BWV 1002
Sonate No.2	Am	BWV 1003

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

Bach: Double Concertos

Disc I-9 is one of Bach's best. It has those melodic counterpoint, complex theme development, concerto structure alternating slow and fast movements. He has played with the instrument selection, which make each unique, for this as well.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Concerto for flute, violin, harpsichord, strings & bc	Am	BWV 1044
Concerto for oboe, violin, strings & bc	Dm	BWV 1060
Concerto for oboe d'amore, strings & bc	A	BWV 1055
Concerto for 2 violins, strings & bc	Dm	BWV 1043

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

Bach: Concertos for 2 & 3 Harpsichords

Brilliant collection CD I-8.

Beautiful as it should be. Again flawless executions. (I have heard too many harpsichord works and feel a bit numb to comment further)

Musica Amphion, Pieter-Jan Belder

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Concerto for 2 harpsichords and strings	C	BWV 1061	Belder and Menno van Delft
Concerto for 2 harpsichords and strings	Cm	BWV 1062	Siebe Henstra and Belder
Concerto for 3 harpsichords and strings	Dm	BWV 1063	Belder, Henstra, and van Delft
Concerto for 3 harpsichords and strings	C	BWV 1064	Belder, van Delft, and Henstra

Bach: Harpsichord Concertos (2/2)

This is beautiful. Though the continuous listening of harpsichord works is a bit tiring, these works cannot be missed on any account.
The enjoyment I feel is so profound, that more words are irrelevant.

Brilliant CD1-7.
Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum
Burkhard Glaetzner

Christine Schornsheim, harpsichord/Cembalo
Armin Thalheim, cembalo
Mechtild Stark, cembalo
Violetta Liebsch, cembalo
Paul Leenhouts, recorder/Blockflöte
Karel van Steenhoven, Blockflöte

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Harpsichord Concerto	Fm	BWV 1056
Concerto for harpsichord, 2 flutes, strings & b.c.	F	BWV 1057
Harpsichord Concerto	Gm	BWV 1058
Concerto for 2 harpsichords, strings & b.c.	Cm	BWV 1060
Concerto for 4 harpsichords, strings & b.c.	Am	BWV 1065

Bach: Cembalokonzerte

This CD I/6 from Brilliant is exquisite.

BWV 1052 is, for sure, one of my favorite pieces of all. Beautiful harmonic progression, conflict in the theme, tempo and pace, softness of instruments. It has it all, though the Adagio lacks in my opinion.

BWV 1053 has some nice passages, but did not impress me much.

BWV 1054 is a great piece, too. Definitely a piece to have on a (formerly, duh ;) deserted island.

Finally, BWV 1055 is the most rounded work of the set. It is soberly impressive. The initial theme of the 1st movement is very nice. The finale is also very strong.

1, 2, and 4 need to be in a collection.

Christine Schornsheim, Cembalo
Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum, Burkhard Glaetzner

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Harpsichord concerto	Dm	BWV 1052		Amazing!
Harpsichord concerto	E	BWV 1053
Harpsichord concerto	D	BWV 1054		Beautiful
Harpsichord concerto	A	BWV 1055

Bach: Violinkonzerte

CD I-5 from Brilliant's take on Bach is beautiful too. Special are BWV 1041 and BWV 1042. The Concerto fro 3 violins is nice too, but too needlessly exalting. Concerti Dm and Gm did not tell me anything new (I might even skip them during next hearing :-o )

Emmy Verhey, violin
Camerata Antonio Luco
(all except concerto for 3 violins, as detailed below)

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Violin Concerto	Am	BWV 1041
Violin Concerto	E	BWV 1042
Violin Concerto	Dm	BWV 1052
Violin Concerto	Gm	BWV 1056
Concerto for 3 violins, strings & b.c.	D	BWV 1064	Rainer Kussmaul, Henk Rubingh, Thomas Hengelbrock: violins Amsterdam Bach Soloists

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

Bach: Orchestersuiten 3 & 4

The Ouverture of Orchestral Suite No.3 is a nice listening with a powerful Bach leading us into an important work, as I interpret it from the detail and richness of feelings, for him. In this case, when such a well-known piece is reviewed as is BWV 1068 Air and Gavotte I & II, we must place more attention on the particularities of the interpretation. The Air was so sweetly and precisely interpreted, with no abusive decor. Thoughtful sobriety. The Gavotte I & II are cheerfully and forcefully played. Well directed weaving of the different winds and strings sections.

Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen is so strong. It conveys perfectly the hopeful struggle needed to arrive at God's Kingdom. I must say that I personally feel that this is one of Bach's most achieved pieces. The organ setting beautifully the self-absorbed atmosphere, with the trumpet's leading the harmonic melody, and the strings sustaining it all with small bursts of energy. The main theme reappearing just to set what is important and not let the listener astray.

Personally I did not enjoy particularly BWV1069 in Brilliant's CD1-4. I would rescue the emphatic Réjouissance, from the otherwise well-built Orchestral Suite 4.

La Stravaganza Köln, Andrew Manze
Christoph Lehmann, Organ

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Ouverture No.3	D	BWV 1068		3 trumpets, timpani, 2 oboes, strings and continuo
Sinfonia from Cantata BWV 146 Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen
Ouverture No.4	D	BWV1069

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

Bach: Brandenburgische Konzerte 4,5,6

Breathtaking! Absolutely outstanding! (Knowing me, I think I have to be in specially receptive mood now)

Although I have heard them many many times, (and I have heard this precise recording before, Brilliant CDI-2) it still sounds so new. Such a compelling tempo, crystal clear distinction of instruments. For example in the Allegro of BWV 1049, I just noticed some virtuosissimi violin scales that I had not distinguished in any other recording.

Concerto no. 4 G BWV 1049
Rémy Baudet, violin
Pieter-Jan Belder, Saskia Coolen, recorder

Concerto no. 5 D BWV 1050
Wilbert Hazelzet, traverso
Rémy Baudet, violin
Pieter-Jan Belder, harpsichord

Concerto no. 6 B flat BWV 1051
Staas Swierstra, Sayuri Yamagata, viola
Mieneke van der Velden, Johannes Boer, viola da gamba
Lucia Swarts, cello

Pieter-Jan Belder, conducts Musica Amphion.

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