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The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => Topic started by: USMC1960s on May 21, 2015, 09:54:54 AM

Title: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: USMC1960s on May 21, 2015, 09:54:54 AM
Just curious as to what the membership here likes best among Mozart's symphonies. Thank you in advance.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Karl Henning on May 21, 2015, 10:15:06 AM
The 39th in Eb gets too little love.

I love the "Prague", too (38th in D).

(Everyone, absolutely everyone, does — or ought to — love the 40th & 41st.)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Mandryka on May 21, 2015, 10:43:52 AM
Quote from: USMC1960s on May 21, 2015, 09:54:54 AM
Just curious as to what the membership here likes best among Mozart's symphonies. Thank you in advance.

38, it's so elegant, so intelligent.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Brian on May 21, 2015, 10:44:36 AM
Hate to sound like a broken record, but my answer is also 38 and 39.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: mc ukrneal on May 21, 2015, 10:58:24 AM
The ones that Mozart wrote. Those are the best! :)

There are so many good ones, but more often than not 25 just seems to resonate with me most consistently. But I heard this one late, and probably overlistened to the later ones, so maybe I'll change my mind next time I listen...
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Karl Henning on May 21, 2015, 11:04:05 AM
Quote from: mc ukrneal on May 21, 2015, 10:58:24 AM
The ones that Mozart wrote. Those are the best! :)

There are so many good ones, but more often than not 25 just seems to resonate with me most consistently. But I heard this one late, and probably overlistened to the later ones, so maybe I'll change my mind next time I listen...

That is really a risk;  I quite deliberately pace my Mozart symphony intake.

Tangentially, this is one of the ancillary benefits of Haydn's having written soooo many symphonies;  if there is any way to play any of his symphonies to exhaustion — short of the outright silliness of listening to only two of them  8)  — I have not found it!
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 11:47:58 AM
I would say 38 & 40 if I didn't like 39 so much...  :-\

8)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 12:25:29 PM
7a "Alte Lambacher", 9, 12, 14, 15, 20, 25, 28, 33, 34, 40

I like the brat Mozart  8)

Sarge
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: DaveF on May 21, 2015, 01:12:23 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 12:25:29 PM
7a "Alte Lambacher", 9, 12, 14, 15, 20, 25, 28, 33, 34, 40
Sarge
Quite agree that 34 needs more loving - splendid work, including Mozart's last gigue finale before he went on to more ambitious things.  A mention also for 32, the shortest, an ingenious cross between an Italian overture and a sonata-form.  And the Linzer.  And all the obvious ones.  And there's an early one (too lazy to look it up) in a major key (of course) with a minor-key slow movement, which unusual, indeed unique, feature, makes it memorable.  To me.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 01:22:55 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 12:25:29 PM
7a "Alte Lambacher", 9, 12, 14, 15, 20, 25, 28, 33, 34, 40

I like the brat Mozart  8)

Sarge

At that point, it is difficult to leave out the A major #29, wouldn't you agree?  And I need to look up the number when I get home, but there is one in the area of K 130 which is in Bb that's a peach too.

8)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 01:54:35 PM
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 01:22:55 PM
At that point, it is difficult to leave out the A major #29, wouldn't you agree?

I would. I debated between 28 and 29...should have just included both.

Sarge
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Cato on May 21, 2015, 02:03:08 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 01:54:35 PM
I would. I debated between 28 and 29...should have just included both.

Sarge

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 01:22:55 PM
At that point, it is difficult to leave out the A major #29, wouldn't you agree?  And I need to look up the number when I get home, but there is one in the area of K 130 which is in Bb that's a peach too.

8)

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 11:47:58 AM
I would say 38 & 40 if I didn't like 39 so much...  :-\

8)

Quote from: Mandryka on May 21, 2015, 10:43:52 AM
38, it's so elegant, so intelligent.

Quote from: karlhenning on May 21, 2015, 10:15:06 AM
The 39th in Eb gets too little love.

I love the "Prague", too (38th in D).

(Everyone, absolutely everyone, does — or ought to — love the 40th & 41st.)

Basically, those from Symphony #27 onward especially resonate with me, with those mentioned above resonating even more!
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Jo498 on May 21, 2015, 02:16:52 PM
My favorite is 38, then 40 and 39. I am not as fond of the "Jupiter" as many other people.

Somewhat overlooked in my impression are 33 and 34, both much better than the more famous 31 (Paris). Also 28 is overshadowed by 25 and 29 (somewhat understandable but undeserved). Another interesting one is the ouverture/sinfonia Nr. 26 (a rather dramatic/operatic piece with a bigger orchestra than e.g. 29)

I also have a fondness of the two biggest "symphonic serenades" K 250 (Haffner) and K 320 (Posthorn). Some people find them boring and they ARE mighty long but very good.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: USMC1960s on May 21, 2015, 02:25:31 PM
Thank you for the responses. Much appreciated.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Drasko on May 21, 2015, 02:34:01 PM
38
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 02:46:08 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 01:54:35 PM
I would. I debated between 28 and 29...should have just included both.

Sarge

Yup, tough choice. The one in Bb is actually #24, not in the 130's but 173dA (182). It has some nice ideas; no masterpiece but comparing well to its peers. Except Haydn, of course... :)

8)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Gurn Blanston on May 21, 2015, 02:50:47 PM
Quote from: Jo498 on May 21, 2015, 02:16:52 PM

I also have a fondness of the two biggest "symphonic serenades" K 250 (Haffner) and K 320 (Posthorn). Some people find them boring and they ARE mighty long but very good.

Me too! And as well as those 2, K 334, the Robinig symphonic Divertimento (a serenade for all intents and purposes). Hard to imagine them as boring; add in their opening and closing marches and you have a symphony, a concerto and a couple of dances and marches to go along with. Undervalued, I suppose. :)

8)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Bogey on May 21, 2015, 03:03:34 PM
Quote from: karlhenning on May 21, 2015, 10:15:06 AM
The 39th in Eb gets too little love.

I love the "Prague", too (38th in D).

(Everyone, absolutely everyone, does — or ought to — love the 40th & 41st.)

It's a dartboard for me with those numbers....38-41.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 03:15:06 PM
Quote from: DaveF on May 21, 2015, 01:12:23 PM
Quite agree that 34 needs more loving...

Szell made me love it. I was at Severance in Jan '69 when 34 was first on the program (Prokofiev VC2 and Schumann 2 followed). And there was the famous Concertgebouw recording, coupled with a splendid Beethoven 5.

Sarge
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Ken B on May 21, 2015, 03:55:48 PM
40, 39, 41

38

25, 33

In order, the lines indicating largish gaps.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Bogey on May 21, 2015, 03:58:54 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on May 21, 2015, 03:15:06 PM
Szell made me love it. I was at Severance in Jan '69 when 34 was first on the program (Prokofiev VC2 and Schumann 2 followed). And there was the famous Concertgebouw recording, coupled with a splendid Beethoven 5.

Sarge

Anything he ever do to make us hate something?  Didn't think so.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Ken B on May 21, 2015, 04:00:31 PM
Quote from: Bogey on May 21, 2015, 03:58:54 PM
Anything he ever do to make us hate something?  Didn't think so.
His successor. :)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: springrite on May 21, 2015, 04:10:05 PM
25, 39 and 41, in no particular order, of the rest of his symphonies.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: TheGSMoeller on May 21, 2015, 05:18:23 PM
25
38
40
33
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: San Antone on May 21, 2015, 05:28:56 PM
35-41

8)
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Old Listener on May 21, 2015, 09:56:25 PM
25,28,29 - very appealing works by a younger Mozart.

34 - the Szell/Concertgebouw recording is a knockout.

38 - Probably my very favorite Mozart symphony.

39-41 - These have been favorites for 4 decades.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: aligreto on May 22, 2015, 06:50:50 AM
I have always had a liking for No. 29.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Jaakko Keskinen on May 22, 2015, 08:31:55 AM
29. That first movement is a real beauty.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Bruckner is God on May 22, 2015, 10:43:30 AM
I've always had a sweet spot for the Haffner. Others than that I love all his late symphonies, and do not have any "favourites".
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: andolink on May 24, 2015, 05:21:23 AM
38 and 29
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Xenophanes on May 25, 2015, 12:06:52 PM
35 and 41, no question.

Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: starrynight on June 01, 2015, 01:28:00 PM
F major KV 19a (Anh. 223) 1765
8  D major, K. 48   1768

18  F major KV 130       1772
26    E♭ major    K. 184/161a   1773
27    G major    K. 199/161b  1773
28    C major    K. 200/189k  1774
29    A major    K. 201/186a 1774
30    D major    K. 202/186b    1774

34    C major    K. 338    1780
39    E♭ major    K. 543    1788
40    G minor    K. 550     1788
41    C major    K. 551     1788
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Mandryka on June 03, 2015, 12:42:29 AM
Quote from: starrynight on June 01, 2015, 01:28:00 PM
F major KV 19a (Anh. 223) 1765
8  D major, K. 48   1768

18  F major KV 130       1772
26    E♭ major    K. 184/161a   1773
27    G major    K. 199/161b  1773
28    C major    K. 200/189k  1774
29    A major    K. 201/186a 1774
30    D major    K. 202/186b    1774

34    C major    K. 338    1780
39    E♭ major    K. 543    1788
40    G minor    K. 550     1788
41    C major    K. 551     1788

Yes I like K130 too, the thing which drew it to my attention was a recording by Bruno Maderna.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: starrynight on June 09, 2015, 11:48:26 AM
Was it Alfred Einstein who said it was his first great symphony?  I put it in the middle years, I'd rather judge each period separate.  Pieces like that though remind me of the influence Mozart had on Schubert in his earlier years.
Title: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: B_cereus on July 27, 2015, 09:23:23 PM
Why didn't Mozart write any more symphonies in the last few years of his life? I know he didn't expect to die at 35, but still... Did he lose interest in symphonies? Or was it because he wasn't commissioned? If he had lived would he have written more symphonies?
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: Jo498 on July 27, 2015, 11:21:38 PM
I think we still do not know for sure what prompted him to write the last 3 in summer 1788 although it's not as mysterious as it was thought to be for a long time and they (or some of them) were probably played at some concert in the following winter or so.
But as you say, Mozart hardly ever wrote major works without a concrete commission (or clear opportunity to play/conduct/sell them).
So I am pretty sure he would have written more symphonies later on had he lived longer but in the last 3 years of his live he was sufficiently busy with other projects. 3 string quartets, 3 quintets, 3 operas, two concertos and many other pieces, and he also arranged four large scale works by Handel in that time.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: rockerreds on July 28, 2015, 05:56:45 AM
I've always liked The Linz.
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: jochanaan on July 29, 2015, 06:53:17 AM
Choosing between any of Mozart's symphonies from, oh, about #25 onward is kind of like choosing between different Steinways..  That said, I'm particularly fond of the Haffner and the Linz; those are the ones I've actually played.  Still, I look forward to playing the Jupiter sometime. ;D
Title: Re: Your Favorite Mozart Symphonies
Post by: jochanaan on July 29, 2015, 06:54:11 AM
Quote from: mc ukrneal on May 21, 2015, 10:58:24 AM
The ones that Mozart wrote. Those are the best! :) ...
What?  No fondness for #37, the one mostly written by Michael Haydn? ;D