Mozart: The Symphonies
$112.88
MOZART COMPLETE SYMPHONIES - RATED 5-STARS as #1 RATED CD SET of MOZART S COMPLETE 68 SYMPHONIES - WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: THE SYMPHONIES 19-CD SET / ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC (AAM)/ CHRISTOPHER HOGWOOD / JAAP SCHRODER/ RELEASED IN 1997 / MOSTLY 100% DIGITAL RECORDING some REMASTERED ANALOG to DIGTIAL (ADD)*RATED 5-STARS and #1 RATED MUST HAVE CD SET of WOLFGANG MOZART S SYMPHONIES by classical music critics/enthusiasts! MOZART THE SYMPHONIES 19-CD SET performed by Director/Conductor CHRISTOPHER HOGWOOD and the ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC (AAM) is the world s first and numero uno critically acclaimed classical period instrument orchestras! Differing significantly from their modern counterparts, the ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC S period instruments recreates the original sonic qualities of baroque and classical works just like 18th Century composers like Mozart intended them to be heard. With trademark brilliance and virtuosity, the ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC vividly recaptures 18th Century classical music masterpieces back to life the way WOLFGANG MOZART intended them to be heard and played on period instruments which exhibit a pure sound when compared with modern instruments.In this magnificent authentic period instrument 19-CD set recording, THERE IS NO CONDUCTOR. Like during Wolfgang Mozart s 18th Century time, the ROLE OF ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR IS SHARED between the KEYBOARD CONTINUO PLAYER CHRISTOPHER HOGWOOD and the CONCERT MASTER JAAP SCHRODER. WOLFGANG MOZART s SYMPHONIES REPRESENT THE ULTIMATE CLASSICAL MUSIC EXPRESSION OF GRANDEUR, PASSION, and the SUBLIME. MOZART S SYMPHONIES delight the listener with ALL THE SPLENDOR OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN ONE HEAVENLY SOUND! MOZART devoted his life to ACHIEVING PERFECTION WITH IDEAL BEAUTY IN HIS CLASSICAL MUSICAL THAT REFLECTS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF HUMAN ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT. As the world s greatest classical music genius ever, WOLFGANG MOZART composed his 600+ CLASSICAL MUSIC WORKS WITH THE QUALITIES OF BEAUTY, CLARITY, LOGIC, AND BALANCE! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY SYMPHONIES DID WOLFGANG MOZART COMPOSE? This is not an easy question to answer since THE CORRECT ANSWER IS NOT 41 SYMPHONIES. The correct answer is Wolfgang Mozart composed 68 SYMPHONIES! MOZART s first symphony was composed in 1764 and his last symphony was written in 1788. One of the MAJOR MOZART RECORDING LANDMARKS IN THE LAST 25-YEARS has been the AAM S MAGNIFICENT PERIOD INSTRUMENT RECORDING of MOZART THE SYMPHONIES (Decca 19 CD set) containing ALL OF MOZART S 68 SYMPHONIES and EVERY NOTE WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART EVER COMPOSED for his SYMPHONIES. Many complete MOZART SYMPHONY collections omit Symphony No. 37 as it was composed not only by Mozart but also by his friend and fellow composer Michael Haydn. Most COMPLETE MOZART SYMPHONY CD SETS do not contain recordings of Mozart symphonies that fall outside Symphonies Nos. 1 - 41. Fortunately under the vision of world famous AAM Director/Conductor Christopher Hogwood, MOZART THE SYMPHONIES 19-CD SET contains every work of Mozart s symphonic or near-symphonic music (excepting opera, overtures, dances, and divertimenti) including alternate recordings of Symphonies No. 31, No. 35, and No. 40. the Great G minor. All of the AAM s MOZART THE SYMPHONIES 19-CD SET performances are grouped by their historical chronological relationship to one another and just where Mozart was when each symphony was composed - London, the Netherlands, Salzburg, Italy, back to Salzburg again, Paris, and Vienna. As a famous classical music scholar, AAM Director Conductor Christopher Hogwood has diligently researched each of Mozart s specific symphonies and the history of how they were composed so the AAM performs them as closely as Mozart would have been their maestro conductor. Examination of WOLFGANG MOZART S SYMPHONIES from the late 1770 s and 1780 s reveals that not only did MOZART INVENT a TOTALLY NEW STYLE OF SYMPHONY WHOSE CLASSICAL MUSIC DYNAMICS CONTAINED NEW STRUCTURES, RHYTHMS, MELODIES, HARMONIES, and TEXTURES. MOZART also PERFECTED the COMPLEXITY and LENGTHY STRUCTURE of the NEW 4TH MOVEMENT SYMPHONY FORM created by 18th Century composers Johann Christian Bach and C. P. E. Bach. By adding a 4th movement, MOZART S SYMPHONIES comprised an opening 1st movement (usually fast), a 2nd movement that was slow, a 3rd movement with a rondo or minuet (between slow and fast), and a 4th movement which could be a combination of slow and fast. CHRISTOPHER HOGWOOD VIRTUOSO CONDUCTOR & ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC (AAM) WORLD S #1 PERIOD INSTRUMENT ORCHESTRA EXTRAORDINAIREChristopher Hogwood is a world renonwed English conductor, harpsichordist, writer and scholar of music In 1973, Christopher Hogwood founded the Academy of Ancient Music (AAM), one of the world s first and foremost period-instrument orchestras. Concerts across six continents and over 250 recordings since its formation by Christopher Hogwood in 1973 demonstrate. The AAM s pre-eminence in the music of the period 1600-1850, from Monteverdi to Mendelssohn.The SECOND BEST CD rated by classical music critics/enthusiasts is the COMPLETE MOZART SYMPHONIES/PINNOCK/ENGLISH CONCERT [BOX SET] also available on Amazon.com
The original, original instrument take - A few months ago I bought the Trevor Pinnock Mozart Complete Symphonies (11 cds) and the 250th Anniversary Edition Mozart Symphonies (8 cds) that is not quite a complete symphony cycle. The Anniversary Edition features Harnoncourt on about 5 of the 8 discs. I also have his two CD twofers that cover the early symphonies. So, I more or less ended up with two complete renditions of Mozart s symphonies. I first bought the Harnoncourt early symphony 2fer and enjoyed it enough to buy volume two. This led me to buy the 250 Anniversay 8 cd set. I have not in the least regretted these purchases!Harnoncourt is the most radical of these three original instrument takes on Mozart, especially in the late symphonies. For example, listen to symphony 29 by each of these three sets and compare them to the Karl Bohm benchmark 29th. Harnoncourt is Ricky Racer and Bohm is Mr. Serene and Majestic.Obviously, price is only one of the factors in buying. The AAM costs more but has almost twice the music. The AAM set is probably the more collectable since they got there first. This set was issued in multiple lp boxes way back when and I recently watched just one of these boxes, unopened, go for over 80 bucks at EBAY. There really is quite a sound difference between modern and original instruments. Rhapsody has the Mozart Horn Concertos posted by the AAM using an apparently valveless horn. Listen to this very squeaky rendition and compare it to Brain s to get a feel for the difference. They also have the Philips Complete Mozart Piano Concerto box that features a pianoforte on disc one of concertos 1 to 4. This instrument sounds more like a harpsichord than a piano and took some adjusting to get used to. The Smithsonian put out on vinyl (circa 1980) The Six Brandenburg Concerti by Bach on original instruments. The booklet gives quite a bit of info on the differences in instruments between modern and original. Here are a few snippets: The brass instruments were, until the 19th century, valveless. This reduced the number of notes available. The wind instruments of Bach s time had few keys--the transverse flute had one, the oboe two or three, and the bassoon three--calling for contrived fingerings to cover the full chromatic scale. The music produced by a Baroque bow is characteristically tapered in shape, with great potential for a lively distinction between notes. The bottom line for me is that Mozart, when well played, conducted, and recorded, sounds great--be it original instruments or modern. Having both modern and original choices is great. Life is wonderful with changes in flavor. I have only listened once to the AAM Mozart symphonies and have not done a compare and contrast between these and Pinnock s, etc. I was impressed by the consistency in performance and that being very good. It is really quite a feat to put out 19 cds and have them sound great from stem to stern. As an ADD recording, these give the DDDs a run for the money. The AAM Mozart Symphony cycle is posted at Rhapsody so you can look before you leap if you are in the market.
The most complete set of Mozart symphonies ever recorded - This massive 19 CD collection contains 71 symphonies! Yes, all 41 of the usual symphonies are here, but another 27 symphonic works are presented, as well as alternative versions of symphonies Nos. 31, 35 & 40. The works are all recorded on period instruments (or modern copies of 18th century instruments) and the orchestra is accompanied throughout by harpsichord continuo. The sounds of the various sections of the orchestra are full of colour and character - the wind and brass players, in particular, make this set such a delightful one.I also have the Pinnock recording, which contains only the standard 41 symphonies and it is every bit as good. I can really make up my mind which I prefer, although Pinnock s reading of symphony No. 40 is sublime - particularly in the beautiful slow movement. However, Hogwood and his Academy of Ancient Music play almost all these symphonies with great gusto and style. As another reviewer said, Hogwood allows his musicians to simply play the music and let Mozart s music live in a natural and organic way, with minimal interference from the conductor.Each work tells a story and the recordings of these works remind us of the fact that Mozart wasn t some sort of proto-Beethoven, rather, his music was more like the culmination of many 18th century currents, trends and ideas - Baroque music on steroids, even! ,-))This is a set which is very close to my heart and I consider it one of the treasures in my home. I return to it often - at any time of the day or night.
Indispensable - This set is indispensable for anyone who seriously wants to have a complete Mozart collection. It contains every symphonic work written by Mozart, including second versions of certain late symphonies. The playing is alive and fresh, the sound is full, warm and clear. What you get is not Hogwood s interpretation...but music and just the music, this guy understands Mozart and just lets these musicians play with joy, spontaneity, meaning and feeling. I didn t think they would be so good! There are times when you don t even notice that they re playing on period instruments. This set is completely satisfying and I m glad I own it. It s a pricy box set, but totally worth it...try to find it used and bask in the glory of Mozart.
Ok, but.... - I will qualify this review by saying that I have not by any means listened to every single symphony on this recording. I listened to several of the symphonies from this set for a conducting class, and spent a considerable amount of time comparing them with other recordings for phrase structure, dynamics, etc. My conclusion:Overall, I am personally just not impressed by Hogwood. His handling of the phrases is rough, and the music just doesn t seem polished. Occasionally the balance is questionable (for example, several clarinet passages in the first movement of the 39th stick out), and at other points I get the impression that he put little planning into the organization of strong and weak bars. Perhaps it is mostly personal preference, but other conductors really do sound better.I think that this recording has its place, as there are few boxed sets of all of Mozart s symphonies available, and certainly there was some groundbreaking period instrument work here. I would, however, strongly recommend that anyone considering purchasing this set actually obtain a copy first from a library to decide if this is really what they want.