24 thoughts on “Reference Recording: Mozart's Last Six Symphonies”
Fantastic recordings Mr. Hurwitz. Bohm is my favorite, but based upon your prior recommendation on Walter’s Mozart I got the big Walter box and was imminently pleased.
I was interested in what you said about the rehearsal of the Linz Symphony. There's an interview Otto Klemperer gave to John Freeman in 1961, where he said that Bruno Walter was very conciliating and very elegant and very mild. "And I am not. He was a moralist, and I am not – I am an immoralist, absolutely!" A lovely video! I've passed it on to a friend who adores Mozart symphonies, and is not too keen on HIP and period instruments.
If we’re considering cycles, would Karajan’s early 60’s Beethoven symphonies be the reference recording? It sure seems like everyone has or at least knows that collection.
Was Klemperer's (which was recorded at almost exactly the same time) not the reference simply because it wasn't marketed as heavily and perhaps because Klemperer was not quite as big a name a Walter (he was big, just not as big)? It's certainly can't be because they were regarded as not as good, because they were (albeit a little less "Romantic", perhaps).
After having listened for considerable time to Karl Bohm's and Herbert von Karajan's versions I always found hard to get used to the style of Bruno Walter. Just as you said, slower tempos, elongated phrases, less powerful intervention of the brass and timpani sections and so on.. May be nowadays I can better acknowledge his contribution to keep Mozart in the frontline of the big, major composers. Still difficult to my ears, though. Thanks for this video, very interesting and informative!
Dave, care to comment on Solti's remark in his memoir, about the Linz Symphony rehearsal album? "The more he rehearses it, the worse it gets." Snarky much?
Walter’s rehearsal disc is as much an exegesis of the Linz symphony (especially that slow movement!) as it is a rehearsal. It may even have you convinced, as I am, that it’s one of the classical period’s great symphonic masterworks.
I've been listening to Walter's Mozart Symphonies 25, 28 & 29 album from 1956 (bicentennial from 1756) very recently. Glad you're covering the last 6 as well
References change as time moves on, I suppose, but going back to old(er) recordings, my reference for the late ones has been (and remains; other favorites aside) Krips & the Concetgebouw.
Mozart’s Symphony No.39 in E-flat, K.543 recorded live with Stockholm Philharmonic and Bruno Walter, released on Everest Records as LP, was my introduction to this wonderful symphony during my early childhood. It is absolutely a timeless treasure, and I am still haunted by its beauty. This is such an impressive recording, there are so much delightful details, we could highlight and discuss, but I have just wanted to point a very tiny and fine detail: I have not heard any other recording, where the down scales in the extensive slow introduction could played more beautiful. The way, those scales played speaks volumes about the rest of the performance. The recording included an equally amazing performance of Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, as well. It is so unfortunate that this recording has never been released on CD, and is no longer available anywhere; as far as I know.
Thank you for reminding me of just how good these performances are. The first recording of Mozart symphonies that I bought when I was in high school, was of these performances of 41 and 35 on a single Columbia Lp. Packing that much playing time on a vinyl disc resulted in really bad pre-echo in the first movement of the Jupiter. As I'm typing I'm enjoying this release on Qobuz streaming with no pre-echo! However, due to the influence of a certain Prof. Schickele I can never listen to the 3rd. movement menuetto of the Jupiter without expecting it to modulate into Cielito Lindo😂. Thank you again!
Did not know the Walter recordings, so I cued up the first two movements of the 39th. Seems to me like his conception was grand and romantic–almost like he was conducting Brahms. First movement introduction was very slow–took 3 minutes by itself. Musical moments drawn out for maximum expressiveness and singing aspects. I thought it was lovely and heartfelt.
Your historical discussion of Bruno Walter is interesting, and his recordings are gorgeous. For me though, many others are preferable, including Krips, Bohm, Mackerras, Marriner, and (albeit not complete) Fricsay.
I find Bruno Walter and Szell, actually so near of what "period instruments" actually started doing. I mean, the best I would not say Period instruments, but historically informed… Was Harnoncourt… And he still one of the greatest Mozart's recorded…. But still, not far away from Walter and Szell. Different. But not far away. I agree Walter's is the reference recording. How Walter did the CMajor 36 (we have the rehearsal) it's so historically informed in terms of style.
Fantastic recordings Mr. Hurwitz. Bohm is my favorite, but based upon your prior recommendation on Walter’s Mozart I got the big Walter box and was imminently pleased.
I was interested in what you said about the rehearsal of the Linz Symphony. There's an interview Otto Klemperer gave to John Freeman in 1961, where he said that Bruno Walter was very conciliating and very elegant and very mild. "And I am not. He was a moralist, and I am not – I am an immoralist, absolutely!" A lovely video! I've passed it on to a friend who adores Mozart symphonies, and is not too keen on HIP and period instruments.
I have also liked the Krips renditions with the Concertgebouw. Have you heard those Dave?
Musical term of the day: “clumpishly”.
You're correct Dave, times change, things change, but for me Walter's Mozart still touches my heart like no other conductor ever has. Thank you!
You're going too fast for me Dave!
If we’re considering cycles, would Karajan’s early 60’s Beethoven symphonies be the reference recording? It sure seems like everyone has or at least knows that collection.
Was Klemperer's (which was recorded at almost exactly the same time) not the reference simply because it wasn't marketed as heavily and perhaps because Klemperer was not quite as big a name a Walter (he was big, just not as big)? It's certainly can't be because they were regarded as not as good, because they were (albeit a little less "Romantic", perhaps).
Unsurpassable.
After having listened for considerable time to Karl Bohm's and Herbert von Karajan's versions I always found hard to get used to the style of Bruno Walter. Just as you said, slower tempos, elongated phrases, less powerful intervention of the brass and timpani sections and so on.. May be nowadays I can better acknowledge his contribution to keep Mozart in the frontline of the big, major composers. Still difficult to my ears, though. Thanks for this video, very interesting and informative!
Well done Dave. Apart from the 1930s Beecham/LPO 78s these are amongst the GREATEST Mozart recordings of all time. Cosmic!
Dave, care to comment on Solti's remark in his memoir, about the Linz Symphony rehearsal album? "The more he rehearses it, the worse it gets." Snarky much?
The Beethoven exception has to be the 'Pastoral'. I haven't heard better.
Walter’s rehearsal disc is as much an exegesis of the Linz symphony (especially that slow movement!) as it is a rehearsal. It may even have you convinced, as I am, that it’s one of the classical period’s great symphonic masterworks.
I've been listening to Walter's Mozart Symphonies 25, 28 & 29 album from 1956 (bicentennial from 1756) very recently. Glad you're covering the last 6 as well
Hi Dave, Have you ever mentioned why there isn't a Mozart Symphony No. 37 ?? I'm sure some of your viewers will tell me why? THANKS DAVE
References change as time moves on, I suppose, but going back to old(er) recordings, my reference for the late ones has been (and remains; other favorites aside) Krips & the Concetgebouw.
I was surprised you didn’t discuss Klemperer. I grew up listening to his last six and always thought they were generally well regarded. Was I wrong?
Mozart’s Symphony No.39 in E-flat, K.543 recorded live with Stockholm Philharmonic and Bruno Walter, released on Everest Records as LP, was my introduction to this wonderful symphony during my early childhood. It is absolutely a timeless treasure, and I am still haunted by its beauty. This is such an impressive recording, there are so much delightful details, we could highlight and discuss, but I have just wanted to point a very tiny and fine detail: I have not heard any other recording, where the down scales in the extensive slow introduction could played more beautiful. The way, those scales played speaks volumes about the rest of the performance. The recording included an equally amazing performance of Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, as well. It is so unfortunate that this recording has never been released on CD, and is no longer available anywhere; as far as I know.
Thank you for reminding me of just how good these performances are. The first recording of Mozart symphonies that I bought when I was in high school, was of these performances of 41 and 35 on a single Columbia Lp. Packing that much playing time on a vinyl disc resulted in really bad pre-echo in the first movement of the Jupiter. As I'm typing I'm enjoying this release on Qobuz streaming with no pre-echo! However, due to the influence of a certain Prof. Schickele I can never listen to the 3rd. movement menuetto of the Jupiter without expecting it to modulate into Cielito Lindo😂. Thank you again!
Did not know the Walter recordings, so I cued up the first two movements of the 39th. Seems to me like his conception was grand and romantic–almost like he was conducting Brahms. First movement introduction was very slow–took 3 minutes by itself. Musical moments drawn out for maximum expressiveness and singing aspects. I thought it was lovely and heartfelt.
Your historical discussion of Bruno Walter is interesting, and his recordings are gorgeous. For me though, many others are preferable, including Krips, Bohm, Mackerras, Marriner, and (albeit not complete) Fricsay.
I find Bruno Walter and Szell, actually so near of what "period instruments" actually started doing. I mean, the best I would not say Period instruments, but historically informed… Was Harnoncourt… And he still one of the greatest Mozart's recorded…. But still, not far away from Walter and Szell. Different. But not far away. I agree Walter's is the reference recording. How Walter did the CMajor 36 (we have the rehearsal) it's so historically informed in terms of style.
What do you think of the Eugene Jochum with Boston recording ? Are there more reference recordings for Mozart Symphony No. 41?