Recommend me some Mozart

[.mus]

I have a very large, Mozart-shaped hole in my music library. I have made a number of attempts over the years to assimilate Mozart, never with much success - for the most part, the things that I've listened to (mostly symphonies and chamber works), have left me cold. But - prompted by a chance (and pleasant) encounter with a Lucia Popp 'Mozart - Operatic Arias' LP - I thought it was time to give him another crack. Please recommend me some Mozart (specific recordings welcome)

[SLS]

I have a very large, Mozart-shaped hole in my music library. I have made a number of attempts over the years to assimilate Mozart, never with much success - for the most part, the things that I've listened to (mostly symphonies and chamber works), have left me cold. But - prompted by a chance (and pleasant) encounter with a Lucia Popp 'Mozart - Operatic Arias' LP - I thought it was time to give him another crack. Please recommend me some Mozart (specific recordings welcome)

I have a very large, Mozart-shaped hole in my music library. I have made a number of attempts over the years to assimilate Mozart, never with much success - for the most part, the things that I've listened to (mostly symphonies and chamber works), have left me cold. But - prompted by a chance (and pleasant) encounter with a Lucia Popp 'Mozart - Operatic Arias' LP - I thought it was time to give him another crack. Please recommend me some Mozart (specific recordings welcome)

You have made a very good point - to put it bluntly, I've got better things to do than sit at home and listen to Mozart.

In the classical era, in my book up to 1832, in my humble opinion where Mozart excelled over others was in his last 5 operas. That said, I hate recorded opera, nothing like the real thing.

If there is one set I could listen to regularly, and have in times past, it is the piano sonatas. Uchida first by a stretch then Perahia.

I might then turn to the Haydn quartets(Guarneri), but I'd probably turn to the old boy himself, who was only warming up in the quartet department by then and not long after that I'd be in to LvB op 59, written only 20 years later.

I would also recommend the Harnoncourt 2004 version of the Requiem. Small and intimate, very engaging. Apparently there is a SACD version, but my CD is fine.

[jandl100]

Mozart is one of the truly great Western classical composers.
imo

When younger, I too had trouble seeing much worth listening to in his music, but as the years passed I realised the error of my ways.

Try some piano sonatas, all of this cycle by Jando is wonderful and easily better than any others I have heard (including Uchida and Perahia*!) -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/MOZART-JANDO...+jando+sonatas
And the Requiem, Bohm is best! -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Requi...t+requiem+bohm
And the Mass in c-minor -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Mass-C...art+great+mass
And the string quintets (his best chamber music, imo, deeply profound and very beautiful) -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Compl...tring+quintets
And the clarinet quintet and concerto -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Clari...arinet+quintet
And some piano concertos -- well, why not this one? -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Piano...iano+concertos

* I have to confess to finding the widely admired Uchida and Perahia exceedingly irritating as Mozart pianists!

[MartinT]

The Requiem. It's a must have.

[Gordon Steadman]

Funny you should say that, I too have quite a large hole where Mozart may reside. I have some Karl Bohm symphonies that I never listen to. Unlike jandle, as I have got older I have actually grown less fond if thats possible and still find him a bit lightweight and rather boring. Definitely prefer Haydn.

Still, I might pull out the LPs and have a go, maybe the new Firebottle phono will pull something out that I've been missing until now.

[julesd68]

I didn't have any Mozart in my classical collection until today - picked up a lovely copy of the Requiem for £1.50 on my usual vinyl buying trip when visiting Manchester...

Most Mozart leaves me completely unmoved but do have a soft spot for the Clarinet Concerto.

[jandl100]

If you want my opinion on the symphonies (you do, don't you? ) - then Bohm is boring. If only he had attacked them like he did his recordings of the Brahms symphonies, but no he just plods stodgily along.
Go for Barenboim on EMI - if that doesn't convince you, nowt will.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-symph...zart+barenboim

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Symph...zart+barenboim

[Gordon Steadman]

Just found I have a few more than I remembered. I recorded a few bits for a friend and just copied them into iTunes and forgot about them. Might have a listen later.

[jandl100]

Oooo - I'd like to hear Argerich in the piano sonata!

I have her playing the piano concerto #20 - stunning!

[dave2010]

If you want my opinion on the symphonies (you do, don't you? ) - then Bohm is boring. If only he had attacked them like he did his recordings of the Brahms symphonies, but no he just plods stodgily along.

That's a pity - there was a Böhm set available cheaply recently, I did think of buying it + will now rethink, or try on Spotify first.

You may well be right about Barenboim - though I don't know all of his recordings. I heard him conduct some Mozart symphonies live many years ago, and I recall he was good. I always enjoyed Bruno Walter's recordings, which were on CBS - though they may not be so fashionable now.

What to listen to/out for?

Some of the wind serenades - particularly the K361 for 13 instruments.

Symphonies - 25, 29, and some of 20-41 - particularly 36,38,39,40,41. Charles Mackerras is, I believe very good in these.

Violin concertos.

The horn concertos - though perhaps one only is enough - they're all in E flat. Dennis Brain is the standard recommendation, though others - e.g Tuckwell, Civil are also good.

Piano concertos - 9 (Brendel), most of 17-27. If you can find Malcolm Bilson's set that's good. Stephen (Bishop) Kovacevich is excellent in most of the later ones, as is also Richard Goode. Ingrid Haebler is another possibility for some. There's a recording of no. 23 with Horowitz - brilliant. Brendel is good in no. 27. There are some total duds. I have a recording of Michelangeli which is awful - though I think with some conductors he was OK. There are a few really cheap downloads (if anyone can stand the compressed sound - I find it bearable) - I'll come back later with details.

Operas - these may not float everyone's boat, but they are worth getting to know, and possibly falling in love with. The plots can be hard to take - I find Cosi fan Tutte particularly problematic, but then that goes for most opera, and perhaps also most dramatic art.

The Drottninghom opera recordings of Cosi, Don and Marriage are very good, as is also the Magic Flute.
Solti's Magic Flute is good - also his Entfuhring aus dem Serail.

I find the Queen of the Night aria often painful to listen to - as so few singers are really able to do it - what the heck was Mozart thinking of?
I have, however, heard a couple of live performances where, to my amazement it was given a near perfect rendition. Of course there's always this one -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtf2Q4yyuJ0 [ENJOY!]

Try listening to a few versions on YouTube and maybe you'll see/hear what I mean. Diana Danau gets reasonably close - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvuKxL4LOqc

Martino Tirimo is good in most of the piano sonatas. I have the versions by Uchida and Perahi, but I hardly ever listen to them.