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

J.S. Bach: Die Sonaten für Viola Da Gamba und Cembalo

I have to concur with a couple of the reviews in the Amazon page, in that this CD irks me. Like a dozen mosquitoes swarming around an ear for an hour.
I can only say that I bought this CD as a recommendation based on the very talented performers, with the added plus of the sound of original instruments:

• Jordi Savall, viole de gambe
• Pellegrino Zanetti, Venise 1550 (sonata 1)
• (à sept cordes) Barak Norman, London 1697 (sonata 2,3)
• (altus) Andreas Doerffel, Klingenthal 1757 (sonata 4)
• Ton Koopman, Clavecin
• Christian Zell, Hamburg 1737 (property of Museo de la Música, Instituo de Cultura de Barcelona)

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Trio Sonata	C	BWV 529 / BC J5		based on the Sonate V for organ in C major
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard #1	G	BWV 1027
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard #2	D	BWV 1028
Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard #3	Gb	BWV 1029

Haydn: Symphonies 94 "Surprise" & 96 "Miracle"

This is a simple CD. Easy listening of very courtly music. It will be quite familiar to most listeners, and one cannot go wrong giving this Decca CD as a gift.
Christopher Hogwood directs (and plays the fortepiano) the Academy of Ancient Music on authentic instruments of the period.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony #96	D	"Miracle"		Adagio - Allegro Andante Menueto & Trio:Allegretto Finale: Vivace
Symphony #94	G	"Surprise" "Mit dem Paukenschlag"		Adagio -- Vivace assai Andante Menuet & Trio: Allegro molto Finale: Allegro di molto

Dvořák: Piano Works Played on Dvořák's Own Bösendorfer Piano

I personally did not like this alto CD. I am not someone that enjoys the idolatry of a person nor its objects; so even listening to a 1879 piano belonging to the composer, did not light my imagination.
Radoslav Kvapil is too harsh for my taste, but according to his biography he certainly has the qualifications to interpret these in his own way. The listener must decide.

• 1-8 Humoresques, Op.101
• 9-13 American Suite, Op.98
• 14-15 Dumka and Furiant, Op.12
• 16-27 Silhouettes, Op.8

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: 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

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

Haydn: Violoncello Concertos & Symphony

Lovely. Joyful! Superb. Light and inspirational.
Wispelwey is quickly becoming one of my few favorite interpreters. 73 minutes of nonstop barroque beauty.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Concerto per il Violoncello	C			Adagio has cadenza form 18th century
Symphony	D	no. 104		transription for flute, 2 violins, viola, violoncello and pianoforte
Concerto per il Violoncello	D			all cadenzas Wispelwey's

Bach: Suites for Cello 1&2/2

Ah! What an amazing listening! Wispelwey plays so wonderfully: precise, emotive, subtle. I have heard (and posted before) on Casal's and Jaap ter Linden. Although both are recognized as good, I did not find either to appealing to my taste. I can also say that both have a similar free emotional style.

I look forward to listening more from Wispelwey.

Recording: January 1998
Baroque cello: Barak Norman, 1710
Violoncello piccolo (s.XVIII)

Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata

This disc is amazing too.

It plays a very nice sonata with its intended dead (as in latin) instrument, and its contemporary companion. These are the arpeggione a fretted, bowed, 6-string instrument, and the famous pianoforte which evolved into modern pianos.
I have to say that Rostropovich's interpretation is fantastic (as noted in earlier posts), but the charm of this historic recording is amazing. Very hard to find, indeed.

Along with the arpeggione sonata come the variations for flute and pianoforte "Trockne Blumen". I will omit comments on it, as it did not impress me.

Constructors:
Arpeggione: Anton Mitteis, mid s.XIX
Flute: Matheus Schrafft, 1830
Fortepiano: Joseph Brodmann, Vienna ca.1810

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Sonata für Arpeggione		D.821	Klaus Storek, arpeggione Alfons Kontarsky, fortepiano
Trockne Blumen		D.802	Hans-Martin Linde, flute Alfons Kontarsky, fortepiano

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

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

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

Bach: Brandenburgische Konzerte 1,2,3

Concerto no. 1 in F BWV 1046. Did not impress me much. I even doubted it was a Brandenburgische Konzert LOL.

Frank de Bruine, oboe
Rémy Baudet, violin piccolo
Teunis van der Zwart, Erwin Wieringa, horn

Concerto no. 2 in F BWV 1047
William Wroth, trumpet
Frank de Bruine, oboe
Pieter-Jan Belder, recorder
Rémy Baudet, violin

Concerto no. 3 in G BWV 1048

Now we talk. I again have to say I have fallen for small orchestras. The intimacy achieved with each instrument. Beautiful Brandenburg Concerto #3.

Rémy Baudet, Sayuri Yamagata, Irmgard Schaller, violin
Staas Swierstra, Marten Boeken, Mariëtte Holtrop, viola
Rainer Zipperling, Richte van der Meer, Albert Brüggen, cello

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