| Mozart: Symphonies 38-41 | 
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| Artist: Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Creators: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Charles Mackerras
Label: Linn
Category: Music
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £9.79
You Save: £6.20 (39%)
New (14) Used (4) from £8.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 19050
Format: Hybrid Sacd
Media: Audio CD
Running Time: 139 minutes
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 5 x 0.6
UPC: 691062030823
EAN: 0691062030823
ASIN: B0011J2R0K
Release Date: February 25, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: All of our items are brand new and take approx 4-6 working days (excluding weekends) from order to delivery. We only deliver to the UK.
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| Tracks:
| • | Symphony No 38 in D major (`Prague'), K.504 Symphony | | • | No 39 in E flat major, K.543 | | • | Symphony No 40 in G minor, K.550 | | • | Symphony No 41 in C major (`Jupiter'), K.551 |
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| Customer Reviews:
 Benchmark Mozart September 7, 2008
It is the mark of a fine conductor that s/he treat Mozart and Haydn symphonies with he same reverence as, say, Beethoven or Bruckner. In his last four symphonies Mozart establishes a standard for symphonic writing that later composers, Beethoven included, were to respond to and build on. Mackerras has long been a Mozartian par excellence, although his earlier recordings of these symphonies are not, in this reviewer's opinion, of the best. These new recordings with the SCO certainly are.
Mackerras adopts a modern approach to these works that is informed by 'period instrument' performances, while still allowing the sort of spaciousness one tends to find in the performances of more 'old school' conductors - Bohm and Bernstein, for example, are both worth hearing in this repertoire, but Mackerras has the edge on both; he is somehow that bit more 'Mozartian'. The SCO is outstanding as always, responding stylishly and gracefully to Mackerras's meticulous detail.
I've been looking for some time for a modern instrument recording of these works that can stand repeated listening and I found it in these; in fact, for me, Mackerras offers the most rounded and consistently pleasing account of these great works and I would recommend them whole-heartedly.
One for us all May 21, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have given this record full marks, but this is clearly a 6 out of 5 record. It gets 4 stars just for the content, the performance clearly merits at least 2 extra!
There is a lot of elitist bull**** surrounding classical music, but this is a record for us all. As long as you like 'music' and you have got a reasonably open mind spend the 8 and buy this CD. Listen to track 1 CD 1 3 or 4 times (it deserves that much patience!) at the end of it if you are not a convert then go and speak to the devil to buy back your soul.
You can almost reach out and touch the genius in this music, the changes of pace, the change of key...this is an artist operating beyond the ordinary.
Buy it you will never regret it.
A Mozart Must! April 12, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I have been searching for the definitive recording of these the most famous of all of his symphonies and I think I've found it in this offering from Linn, the performance by the Scottish chamber orchestra it has to be said is absolutely superb under Sir Charles' baton, every instrument is clearly heard individually, up until now all I've heard of these symphonies are some hissy 1960's recordings on bargain CD offerings, and a recording of an ECO / Jeffrey Tate performance from 1985 as part of a Mozart 50 cd collector's edition which I made the mistake of purchasing which I'm now going to ditch. If Mackerras can come up with the goods by recording the earlier symphonies I will gladly part with plastic to purchase these as well, Mozart will change your life. 10/10.
Enrich your life March 15, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
I really can't add anything more to these reviews except to say that - if you are new to classical music and don't know what to listen to first - then these symphonies, crammed with sublime tunes and melodies, and beautifully played make the ideal place to start. Transform your life and listen to Mozart.
Superb hybrid HIP performances of Mozart's "big" symphonies March 8, 2008
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
Sir Charles's performances recorded here cover the last four symphonies by Mozart, and these are very good indeed in their category of hybrid (mixture of modern and period (brass) instruments) historically informed performances. Phrasings are articulate and smooth at the same time and textures are utterly clear if not quite as colourful as in all-period instruments recordings. Most importantly, taking all repeats, Sir Charles has successfully kept his listeners in view both these symphonies overall monumental dimensions and the unique finess and beauty in each of their numerous details. SCO plays gloriously and Linn's engineering is equally outstanding. All lovers of Mozart symphonies should take a listen at this.
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