Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39 & 40

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every phrase and every bar bears [Abbado's] stamp, and seems imbued with a lifetime's wisdom and affection...His hand-picked Orchestra Mozart, based in Bologna but made up of international players,... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2012, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 14th Nov 2011
Catalogue No: 4779792
Label: DG Archiv
Length: 66 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

January 2012

Disc of the month

Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K543

Work length31:02

$4.40

$6.00

Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 2008-06-09
Recording Venue: Teatro Manzoni, Bologna

I. Adagio - Allegro

Track length10:43

$1.10

$1.50

II. Andante con moto

Track length8:28

$1.10

$1.50

III. Menuetto. Allegretto

Track length3:42

$1.10

$1.50

IV. Allegro

Track length8:09

$1.10

$1.50

Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550

Work length35:03

$4.40

$6.00

Orchestra Mozart
Claudio Abbado
Recorded: 2009-06-11
Recording Venue: Teatro Manzoni, Bologna

I. Molto allegro

Track length7:47

$1.10

$1.50

II. Andante

Track length13:34

$1.10

$1.50

III. Menuetto. Allegretto

Track length3:57

$1.10

$1.50

IV. Finale. Allegro assai

Track length9:45

$1.10

$1.50

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The 2008 Archiv Produktion recordings of Claudio Abbado’s recordings of Mozart Symphonies with the Orchestra Mozart, received critical acclaim - the critics reaching for superlatives – “these Mozart performances are in the very highest class” (Gramophone).

This live recording brings two more Mozart Symphonies from the acclaimed partnership of orchestra and conductor – presenting one of the best-loved of all the symphonies, No.40 in G minor K.550, alongside by Symphony No.39 in E flat, K.543.

Reviews

January 2012

every phrase and every bar bears [Abbado's] stamp, and seems imbued with a lifetime's wisdom and affection...His hand-picked Orchestra Mozart, based in Bologna but made up of international players, performs faultlessly throughout. However many recordings of these famous works you already own, you need this one.

17th November 2011

the veteran maestro seems to be plumbing increasingly supreme depths of insight...Just occasionally in these brilliant performances, Abbado's attention to detail compromises the freedom of the whole; but the unrivalled quality of that detail makes this an album that absolutely demands to be heard.

March 2012

Besides lean, clean, but not over-severe string tone, there's also a sense of richness and splendour that's just as essential to Mzoart's music...If you're looking for near-definitive performances of these two Mozart masterworks, here they are.

January 2012

Abbado pays much attention to instrumental balance, thereby clarifying lines and refining textures...Here is conducting tied to expressive, imaginative musicianship adding up to the totality of an experience greater than the sum of its parts.

January 2012

[in No. 39] it is clear that Abbado understands this E flat major Symphony as prefiguring the triumphant solar music of [Die Zauberflote]...in the Molto allegro first movement of the 'big' G minor Symphony, Abbado gives the first subject a touchingly lilting aspect, without exaggerating the 'baroque tears' of its repeated semitonal upbeats.

December 2012

Abbado offers a satisfying blend of the sumptuous tone of a modern orchestra with the lightness of articulation and rhythmic clarity of historically informed performance.

22nd January 2012

these fine performances, recorded live in Bologna, are hard to fault...Unlike some of today’s Mozart conductors, fixated on the latest theories and afraid to do anything that may be considered incorrect, Abbado gives the impression of responding to his musical instincts. His tempos sound natural...The glorious E flat symphony, beautifully done, gives deep pleasure.

13th November 2011

Nothing is hurried, and everything has that trademark lyrical sculpting of the line: the opening of No 40 gently shaped to rise and fall, the second violins' chromatic inflection in the first movement return of No 39 perfectly pointed. Every detail tells...The Orchestra Mozart's sound is not glossy: it has stringy violins and plangent individual woodwind, but they are superb players (unnamed in the booklet). This is Mozart perfectly in tune with our times.

12th November 2011

The style is quintessential Abbado: lean and supple yet beautifully nuanced, vibrant but never so hard-pushed that every note isn’t perfectly articulated, and imbued with the wistfulness of a man in his autumn years, without being sentimental... if you want Mozart done with sanity, clarity and grace, look no farther.

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39 & 40

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