Mozart in Period Performances (HIP)

Started by Bunny, April 12, 2007, 10:40:31 AM

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Gurn Blanston

Quote from: George on April 10, 2010, 04:11:28 PM
I get a check every month for listening to Mozart.  ;D

No one needs to pay ME for it... although I am not entirely sure if you and David are using the same definition of compensation here. Hey, I could be wrong, but....  ;)

8)

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George

Quote from: Coopmv on April 10, 2010, 04:12:32 PM
George, You've got the best job ...    ;D

It's like getting paid to eat ice cream.  ;D

George

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 10, 2010, 04:14:06 PM
No one needs to pay ME for it... although I am not entirely sure if you and David are using the same definition of compensation here. Hey, I could be wrong, but....  ;)

Indeed. I figured it would be fun to spin it in another direction.

And no, no one need pay me a dime to listen to Mozart. But please don't tell the checkwriters that, OK?  8)

Gurn Blanston

Quote from: George on April 10, 2010, 04:17:27 PM
Indeed. I figured it would be fun to spin it in another direction.

And no, no one need pay me a dime to listen to Mozart. But please don't tell the checkwriters that, OK?  8)

Ah, you've restored my faith...  0:)

8)

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SonicMan46

Quote from: Coopmv on April 10, 2010, 01:12:41 PM
I am done with Mozart Symphonies.  Between the sets by Hogwood, Pinnock and the Mackerras' set on Telarc, I have more than enough Mozart Symphonies when Mozart is not even one of my favorite composers.

Stuart - I have the same sets above, but Wolfie is one of my favorite composers, so not UNHAPPY?  Just ordered the second volume of the 'new' Mackerras recording - loved the first one; sorry to hear that DA seemed disappointed, the reviews have been quite good - well, ordered and on its way to me!  Dave  :)

Coopmv

Quote from: SonicMan on April 10, 2010, 04:21:14 PM
Stuart - I have the same sets above, but Wolfie is one of my favorite composers, so not UNHAPPY?  Just ordered the second volume of the 'new' Mackerras recording - loved the first one; sorry to hear that DA seemed disappointed, the reviews have been quite good - well, ordered and on its way to me!  Dave  :)

I have always felt that some of Mozart works are more style than substance but this may be just me. 

Elgarian

Quote from: Coopmv on April 10, 2010, 04:31:26 PM
I have always felt that some of Mozart works are more style than substance but this may be just me.
I'm almost alarmed at the sheer quantity of Mozart CDs I've bought during the last year or two, as I passed from a state similar to the one you express here, Coop, to one in which I find myself at least potentially interested in almost anything he ever composed. It's more to do with companionship than actual musical content, I think - the sort of thing I find with a favourite author, where reading is a way of spending valuable time in his (or her) company, over and above the actual content of what's being written.

The HIP breakthrough has made a huge difference to this 'imagined presence' aspect of my Mozart listening. A good HIP performance creates that sense of immediate presence more effectively, so it's like sitting in a pub with Wolfie in front of a good fire with a couple of pints of beer, instead of talking to him on the telephone.

DavidRoss

Have you plunged into Jacobs's Da Ponte operas yet, Alan? 
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

DarkAngel

Quote from: SonicMan on April 10, 2010, 04:21:14 PM
Stuart - I have the same sets above, but Wolfie is one of my favorite composers, so not UNHAPPY?  Just ordered the second volume of the 'new' Mackerras recording - loved the first one; sorry to hear that DA seemed disappointed, the reviews have been quite good - well, ordered and on its way to me!  Dave  :)

50% disappointed: CD1 - average,  CD2 - very good to excellent

I think overall MacKerras earlier Linn Records hybrid set of 38-41 was better

DavidRoss

Quote from: DarkAngel on April 11, 2010, 08:06:52 AM50% disappointed: CD1 - average,  CD2 - very good to excellent

I think overall MacKerras earlier Linn Records hybrid set of 38-41 was better
\
Thanks for your assessment.  Based on my hearing of the Linn 38-41 I've already decided that there's probably not enough difference or improvement compared with his Telarc set to be worth getting. 
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

DarkAngel

Quote from: DavidRoss on April 11, 2010, 08:10:24 AM
\
Thanks for your assessment.  Based on my hearing of the Linn 38-41 I've already decided that there's probably not enough difference or improvement compared with his Telarc set to be worth getting.

I listened to those again myself a couple days ago and I agree with your overall take, not big difference in style between older MacKerras/Telarc and new Mackerras/Linn Records.......pretty similar, more than I had remembered.

For more pronounced difference check newest Jacobs/HM........

Elgarian

Quote from: DavidRoss on April 11, 2010, 07:32:20 AM
Have you plunged into Jacobs's Da Ponte operas yet, Alan?
Oh yes, oh yes. My latter-day Mozartian revelations came initially through the operas, and after listening to Jacobs last summer there was no chance of ever going back, really (especially when PrestoClassical were offering all the Jacobs sets at 30% off).

I was listening to Immerseel's Jupiter in the garden this afternoon - headphones, warm sunshine, comfy chair, feet up, large mug of tea in my favourite Leach-style studio pottery mug, and the companionship of Wolfie. Questions of whether this is a contender for the definitive Jupiter, or whether it matches up to Minkowski, seemed to be of no significance; there and then, in the sunshine, it was the best possible Jupiter to be listening to, and I've never before been so entranced by the finale, with those little fluttering cheerful and cheeky patterns of notes repeatedly interrupting the great theme that's trying so hard, over and over again, to get in the last word. An experience like this goes well beyond the merely aesthetic, and one of the more prominent of the moral/spiritual responses it evokes (among others, like the sense of companionship, of wonder, and of affection) is sheer gratitude: gratitude to Wolfie; to Jos; to Anima Eterna; and to the universe at large for getting this bit right, at least.

DavidRoss

Quote from: Elgarian on April 11, 2010, 01:00:26 PMI was listening to Immerseel's Jupiter in the garden this afternoon - headphones, warm sunshine, comfy chair, feet up, large mug of tea in my favourite Leach-style studio pottery mug, and the companionship of Wolfie. Questions of whether this is a contender for the definitive Jupiter, or whether it matches up to Minkowski, seemed to be of no significance; there and then, in the sunshine, it was the best possible Jupiter to be listening to, and I've never before been so entranced by the finale, with those little fluttering cheerful and cheeky patterns of notes repeatedly interrupting the great theme that's trying so hard, over and over again, to get in the last word. An experience like this goes well beyond the merely aesthetic, and one of the more prominent of the moral/spiritual responses it evokes (among others, like the sense of companionship, of wonder, and of affection) is sheer gratitude: gratitude to Wolfie; to Jos; to Anima Eterna; and to the universe at large for getting this bit right, at least.

Love this post, Alan--it made me smile from my heart to my toes!
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

DarkAngel

#413
Quote from: DarkAngel on March 25, 2010, 04:20:20 AM
 

Extremely impressed with the new Jacobs 39,40 CD.......
One of the rare performances that makes you think you are hearing these standards fresh again for the 1st time, the music lines are so clarified and transparent you hear all kinds of little details obscured by other versions. Bold, exciting outer movements, charming overall with excellent modern sound from Harmonia Mundi. Comes in 3 panel digipak (2 panel digipak for 38,41 CD), similar in stye to Immerseel recent CD but even better overall

I have 15+ versions of Mozart 38-41 and it may seem impossible choose the best from so many great ones, but I will do it anyway and say Jacobs/HM are now my reference performances


Elgarian

Quote from: DarkAngel on April 17, 2010, 12:32:58 PM

Extremely impressed with the new Jacobs 39,40 CD.......
One of the rare performances that makes you think you are hearing these standards fresh again for the 1st time, the music lines are so clarified and transparent you hear all kinds of little details obscured by other versions. Bold, exciting outer movements, charming overall with excellent modern sound from Harmonia Mundi. Comes in 3 panel digipak (2 panel digipak for 38,41 CD), similar in stye to Immerseel recent CD but even better overall

I have 15+ versions of Mozart 38-41 and it may seem impossible choose the best from so many great ones, but I will do it anyway and say Jacobs/HM are now my reference performances
Thanks for this recommendation, DA. I shall almost certainly get these in the not too distant future.

DarkAngel

#415
Quote from: Elgarian on April 17, 2010, 01:41:15 PM
Thanks for this recommendation, DA. I shall almost certainly get these in the not too distant future.

Unfortunately no extended youtube samples, but JPC has kindly provided us with some short samples to give you an idea of what we have here......the Immerseel has a very fresh lively sound I also enjoy

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart-Symphonien-Nr-39-40/hnum/4497798

hornteacher

Couldn't find this in a search so I hope I'm not repeating a topic.  Are there any suggestions on recordings of any Mozart Piano Concerto performed on a Classical Period Fortepiano?

stingo

Bilson/Gardiner on Archiv? I've a few of the single releases, but haven't picked up the box yet.

Elgarian

#418
Quote from: hornteacher on May 04, 2010, 07:10:00 PM
Couldn't find this in a search so I hope I'm not repeating a topic.  Are there any suggestions on recordings of any Mozart Piano Concerto performed on a Classical Period Fortepiano?
There was quite an extensive discussion of some of these in the HIP Mozart thread here, starting at about #228:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,232.msg376200/topicseen.html#msg376200
The discussion continues sporadically over several pages.

I have these two sets, by Viviana Sofronitzki (left) and Immerseel (right):



The Sofronitzki set cost me an arm and a leg, but it's a purchase that I don't regret in the least. The more I listen, the more I love it, and this is the one I turn to, time and again. The recording quality is fabulous, her playing is full of vibrancy and life, and the orchestra supplies everything I hope for from a HIP approach. There's a longish sample available here:
http://www.sofronitsky.com/recordings.html

The Immerseel box was a more recent purchase and is much, much more affordable; but much though I admire Immerseel, and would always want to give him the benefit of the doubt, my progress through his box is slow. The simplest way to describe the difference is that by comparison with Sofronitzki he's too polite. I know these things are very personal, and one size never suits all, but I find with Sofronitzki that I can almost imagine a pipeline straight through to Mozart - I can indulge almost in the illusion that he's playing, revelling in those quicksilver shifts in mood that tumble one after another.

The set by Bilson (see post above) has admirers too, but I haven't heard it.

Gabriel

The only complete HIP set I have is Bilson/Gardiner, and I haven't felt any need for purchasing another yet. Perhaps if René Jacobs decided to record them...! ;D