The Mozart Symphonies, complete, Hogwood on period instruments.

[Harry]

Is this a bargain or not huh?

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8001281/rk/classic/rsk/home

[Grazioso]

Though you can get the excellent HIP Pinnock set for half as much through Amazon Marketplace usually.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Though you can get the excellent HIP Pinnock set for half as much through Amazon Marketplace usually.

Actually you can get Pinnock for about $28 (including postage if you live in the US) from Ebay.

Like from here.

64 Euro is like what? $85 right? Plus shipping that is going to be close to $100. Doesn't sound like a good deal to me.

[Bunny]

That's a newly reissued box set.  It's widely available for that price (~ $87-88.00 US).  If something is market price, it's not a bargain, Harry.  €64.99 is a fair price, but not a bargain.  With the VAT deducted, it does become more attractive, but with the €12.99 shipping, it loses it's bargain status. 

Here's another "bargain" if you want period instrument performances of Mozart's symphonies: http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8972554/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

[PerfectWagnerite]

That's a newly reissued box set.  It's widely available for that price (~ $87-88.00 US).  If something is market price, it's not a bargain, Harry.  €64.99 is a fair price, but not a bargain.  With the VAT deducted, it does become more attractive, but with the €12.99 shipping, it loses it's bargain status. 

Here's another "bargain" if you want period performances of Mozart's symphonies: http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8972554/rk/classic/rsk/hitlist

Why pay 22 Euro for that when you can get the complete Mozart Edition from Amazon US for $70.

[Grazioso]

Why pay 22 Euro for that when you can get the complete Mozart Edition from Amazon US for $70.

True. Anyone wanting a part of the complete edition should buy the whole thing, considering how excellent much of it is.

[SonicMan46]

Is this a bargain or not huh?

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8001281/rk/classic/rsk/home

Might be a good time to list some HIP Mozart Symphony sets worth considering - I own the last couple dozen symphonies by three different conductors (no Hogwood, Pinnock, or other hipsters) - so, who are your favs in this repertoire?  Thanks - 

[PerfectWagnerite]

I don't like any of them. I just don't like HIP.

[BorisG]

Is this a bargain or not huh?

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/8001281/rk/classic/rsk/home

Not a bargain yet, but wait another minute and it might be. The internet is a buyers market.

Hogwood with 19 CDs obviously offers things the others don't, but that can be said for Graf's 13 CD set, too.

Pinnock's 11 CD set is probably the currently most agreeable HIP set for most buyers. A warm tone with a warm price.

In terms of sound and staging, Graf with Salzburg Mozarteum on Capriccio might be considered the best if more heard them. Not as widely distributed as the Pinnock. Nothing is.

But Hogwood has come around again. For a long time it was out of vogue for many with that early rough, edgy HIP sound. Did I say often out of tune? Anyway, some spin this as more authentic sounding, and I think it is, but it's not what I would prefer most of the time, though I appreciate it.

I do not think the Linden set establishes interesting enough territory, as the aforementioned do. Just my opinion. As always, let your ears be the judge.

[SonicMan46]

........
But Hogwood has come around again. For a long time it was out of vogue for many with that early rough, edgy HIP sound. Did I say often out of tune? Anyway, some spin this as more authentic sounding, and I think it is, but it's not what I would prefer most of the time, though I appreciate it.............

Boris - exactly the comments wanted! I've owned a number of the Hogwood performances in the past - not pleased for the exact reasons you mention (sold them off years ago) - maybe just the early CD sound recording, but still interested in other options - don't believe that I've heard Pinnock in these works - 

[Gurn Blanston]

It's a bargain compared to what I paid for it. Several years ago I got it for full price ($150 US) because I wanted it, and I wanted it now! I have no regrets. Period instrument performance, with whatever perceived warts, is music to my ears. The sound was exactly what I was hoping for and the performances too. Not that what is being said is not perfectly true, it is. But that's what I like so I don't care, in fact, I relish it. YMMV.

[Mr. Darcy]

Hogwood with 19 CDs obviously offers things the others don't, but that can be said for Graf's 13 CD set, too... In terms of sound and staging, Graf with Salzburg Mozarteum on Capriccio might be considered the best if more heard them...

I agree. While not on period instruments, those Graf/Salzburg Mozarteum recordings of the symphonies are excellent--solid interpretations with lively tempi. And, they're a steal when you can find them on the Laserlight label.

[Bogey]

It's a bargain compared to what I paid for it. Several years ago I got it for full price ($150 US) because I wanted it, and I wanted it now! I have no regrets. Period instrument performance, with whatever perceived warts, is music to my ears. The sound was exactly what I was hoping for and the performances too. Not that what is being said is not perfectly true, it is. But that's what I like so I don't care, in fact, I relish it. YMMV.

And if you had not have picked it up then Gurn, you know darn well that it would now be another HIP set OOP and going for the likes of $328 on Amazon! 

[M forever]

I think the Hogwood box is really great, it has more or less all the symphonies and fragments and alternative versions and all that (maybe not absolutely everything, I don't know). Hogwood also uses different orchestra sizes, depending on the context of the original performances, as far as known. So some of the are played with very big orchestras, some with really small ensembles. His musical style is very unvain, unpolished, but highly competently played and directed, an unfussy, workmanlike approach with a real sense of discovery and experimentation. All in all, a great compendium, kind of like an encyclopaedia of Mozart's symphonic works and a sonic essay on what their contemporary performance practice and sound world could have been.

The Pinnock box is far less complete, the performances are nice, very cultivated, highly polished but also rather featureless. Not bad at all, but for an alternative view, rather listen to Mackerras' Prague recordings, with modern instruments, but with tastefully applied period performance insights.

[Grazioso]

The Pinnock box is far less complete, the performances are nice, very cultivated, highly polished but also rather featureless. Not bad at all,

Mozart's symphonies are one area in which completeness isn't necessarily a virtue I find my time far better spent with his chamber music, concerti, and operas than those early symphonies or fragments.

[M forever]

Indeed, I haven't listened to them all yet myself either, but it's nice to have them all in one box, and some of the alternative versions, different orchestrations, different orchestra sizes, etc, make it quite interesting to explore. That's what I meant by it's kind of like an "encyclopaedia" of symphonic Mozart.

[Marc]

That's a newly reissued box set.  It's widely available for that price (~ $87-88.00 US).  If something is market price, it's not a bargain, Harry.  €64.99 is a fair price, but not a bargain.  With the VAT deducted, it does become more attractive, but with the €12.99 shipping, it loses it's bargain status. 

Here's another "bargain" if you want period instrument performances of Mozart's symphonies:
[Mozart Symphonies / Mozart Akademie Amsterdam / Jaap ter Tinden]

I can't recommend that one. Tempi are OK, but the interpretation is rather flat, especially in the later (and greater ) symphonies, IMHO.
From the few HIP-recordings I've heard so far (I had some of them taped on music cassette), I remember Hogwood being far more expressive than Pinnock. If your complete Mozart really has to be HIP, I'd go for Hogwood. If not: go for Mackerras and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. Very lively indeed!

[Bunny]

I can't recommend that one. Tempi are OK, but the interpretation is rather flat, especially in the later (and greater ) symphonies, IMHO.
From the few HIP-recordings I've heard so far (I had some of them taped on music cassette), I remember Hogwood being far more expressive than Pinnock. If your complete Mozart really has to be HIP, I'd go for Hogwood. If not: go for Mackerras and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. Very lively indeed!

Yes, but that Brilliant Classics box is a "bargain."  I think the Hogwood symphonies are quite good, and I prefer them to the Pinnock which can become a bit too bland.  It's just that the price that Harry quoted isn't a bargain.  That's my take on it.  It's a bargain when you find it for below market price.  it might be a "good deal"  because it's a good price for a good set, but it doesn't pass the Bunny test for bargains.

Actually, the best bargain set of Mozart Symphonies has to be the Graf set.  They aren't period instrument performances, but they are just elegant, wonderful Mozart.

[Harry]

Yes, but that Brilliant Classics box is a "bargain."  I think the Hogwood symphonies are quite good, and I prefer them to the Pinnock which can become a bit too bland.  It's just that the price that Harry quoted isn't a bargain.  That's my take on it.  It's a bargain when you find it for below market price.  it might be a "good deal"  because it's a good price for a good set, but it doesn't pass the Bunny test for bargains.

Actually, the best bargain set of Mozart Symphonies has to be the Graf set.  They aren't period instrument performances, but they are just elegant, wonderful Mozart.

3,50 euro per cd Bunny, I consider a bargain.

[FideLeo]

I think I will continue to hold onto my bargain "complete" Mozart symphonies recorded by Pinnock (bought for CAD$35 - qualifies as a bargain!) and bash other sets (Hogwood, Graf, Linden...) for all available reasons if necessary!