The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock - Mozart: The Symphonies (2002)
BAND/ARTIST: The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
- Title: Mozart: The Symphonies
- Year Of Release: 2002
- Label: Archiv Produktion
- Genre: Classical
- Quality: flac lossless
- Total Time: 13:36:06
- Total Size: 3.67 gb
- WebSite: Album Preview
Tracklist
CD1
01. Symphony No.1 In E Flat, K.16-1. Molto Allegro
02. Symphony No.1 In E Flat, K.16-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.1 In E Flat, K.16-3. Presto
04. Symphony In F, K.App.223-1. Allegro Assai
05. Symphony In F, K.App.223-2. Andante
06. Symphony In F, K.App.223-3. Presto
07. Symphony No.4 In D, K.19-1. Allegro
08. Symphony No.4 In D, K.19-2. Andante
09. Symphony No.4 In D, K.19-3. Presto
10. Symphony No.5 In B Flat, K.22-1. Allegro
11. Symphony No.5 In B Flat, K.22-2. Andante
12. Symphony No.5 In B Flat, K.22-3. Molto Allegro
13. Symphony No.7a In G, K.App. 221, "Alte Lambacher"-1. Allegro Maestoso
14. Symphony No.7a In G, K.App. 221, "Alte Lambacher"-2. Andante
15. Symphony No.7a In G, K.App. 221, "Alte Lambacher"-3. Presto
16. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-1. Allegro
17. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-2. Andante
18. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-3. Menuetto
19. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-4. Allegro
CD2
01. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-1. Overture
02. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-4. Molto Allegro
05. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-1. (Allegro)
06. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-3. Menuetto
08. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-4. (Allegro)
09. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-1. Allegro
10. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-2. Andante
11. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-3. Menuetto
12. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-4. Molto Allegro
13. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-1. Allegro Maestoso
14. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-2. Andante
15. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-3. Menuetto
16. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-4. Allegro
17. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-1. Allegro
18. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-2. Andante
19. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-3. Menuet
20. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-4. Allegro
21. Symphony No.44 In D, K.81-1. Allegro
22. Symphony No.44 In D, K.81-2. Andante
23. Symphony No.44 In D, K.81-3. Allegro Molto
CD3
01. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-1. Allegro
02. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-4. Presto
05. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-1. Allegro
06. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-3. Menuetto
08. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-4. Allegro
09. Symphony No.11 In D, K.84-1. Allegro
10. Symphony No.11 In D, K.84-2. Andante
11. Symphony No.11 In D, K.84-3. Allegro
12. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-1. Allegro
13. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-2. Andante
14. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-3. Menuet-Trio
15. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-4. Allegro Molto
16. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-1. Allegro
17. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-2. Andantino
18. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-3. Menuetto
19. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-4. Allegro
20. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-1. Allegro
21. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-2. Andante
22. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-3. Menuetto
23. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-4. Molto Allegro
CD4
01. Symphony No.10 In G, K.74-1. (Allegro)
02. Symphony No.10 In G, K.74-2. (Andante)
03. Symphony No.10 In G, K.74-3. (Allegro)
04. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-1. Allegro
05. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-2. Andante
06. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-3. Menuetto
07. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-4. Allegro
08. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-1. Allegro
09. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-2. Andante
10. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-3. Menuetto
11. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-4. Molto Allegro
12. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-1. Allegro Moderato
13. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-2. Andante
14. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-3. Menuetto
15. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-4. Allegro Molto
16. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-1. Allegro
17. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-2. Andante
18. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-3. Menuetto
19. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-4. Presto
CD5
01. Symphony No.16 In C, K.128-1. Allegro Maestoso
02. Symphony No.16 In C, K.128-2. Andante Grazioso
03. Symphony No.16 In C, K.128-3. Allegro
04. Symphony No.17 In G, K.129-1. Allegro
05. Symphony No.17 In G, K.129-2. Andante
06. Symphony No.17 In G, K.129-3. Allegro
07. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-1. Allegro
08. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-2. Andante Grazioso
09. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-3. Menuetto
10. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-4. Allegro Molto
11. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-1. Allegro
12. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-2. Andante
13. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-3. Menuetto
14. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-4. Allegro
15. Symphony No.26 In E Flat, K.184-1. Molto Presto
16. Symphony No.26 In E Flat, K.184-2. Andante
17. Symphony No.26 In E Flat, K.184-3. Allegro
CD6
01. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-1. Allegro
02. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-4. Allegro
05. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-1. Allegro
06. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-3. Menuetto
08. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-4. Allegro
09. Symphony No.22 In C, K.162-1. Allegro Assai
10. Symphony No.22 In C, K.162-2. Andantino Grazioso
11. Symphony No.22 In C, K.162-3. Presto Assai
12. Symphony No.23 In D, K.181-1. Allegro Spirituoso
13. Symphony No.23 In D, K.181-2. Andantino
14. Symphony No.23 In D, K.181-3. Presto Assai
15. Symphony No.27 In G, K.199-1. Allegro
16. Symphony No.27 In G, K.199-2. Andantino Grazioso
17. Symphony No.27 In G, K.199-3. Presto
CD7
01. Symphony No.24 In B Flat, K.182-1. Allegro Spiritoso
02. Symphony No.24 In B Flat, K.182-2. Andantino Grazioso
03. Symphony No.24 In B Flat, K.182-3. Allegro
04. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-1. Allegro Con Brio
05. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-2. Andante
06. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-3. Menuetto
07. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-4. Allegro
08. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-1. Molto Allegro
09. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-2. Andantino Con Moto
10. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-3. Menuetto-Trio
11. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-4. Presto
12. Symphony No.31 In D, K.297-"Paris"-1. Allegro Assai
13. Symphony No.31 In D, K.297-"Paris"-2. Andante
14. Symphony No.31 In D, K.297-"Paris"-3. Allegro
CD8
01. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-1. Allegro Moderato
02. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-4. Allegro Con Spirito
05. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-1. Allegro Spiritoso
06. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
08. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-4. Presto
09. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-1. Allegro Assai
10. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-2. Andante Moderato
11. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-3. Menuetto
12. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-4. Finale (Allegro Assai)
CD9
01. Symphony No.32 In G, K.318 (Overture In G)-1. Allegro Spiritoso
02. Symphony No.32 In G, K.318 (Overture In G)-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.32 In G, K.318 (Overture In G)-3. Tempo I
04. Symphony No.34 In C, K.338-1. Allegro Vivace
05. Symphony No.34 In C, K.338-2. Andante Di Molto Più Tosto Allegretto
06. Symphony No.34 In C, K.338-3. Finale (Allegro Vivace)
07. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-1. Allegro Con Spirito
08. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-2. Andante
09. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-3. Menuetto
10. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-4. Finale (Presto)
11. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-1. Adagio-Allegro Spiritoso
12. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-2. Andante
13. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-3. Menuetto
14. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-4. Finale (Presto)
CD10
01. Symphony No.38 In D, K.504 "Prague"-1. Adagio-Allegro
02. Symphony No.38 In D, K.504 "Prague"-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.38 In D, K.504 "Prague"-3. Finale (Presto)
04. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-1. Adagio-Allegro
05. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-2. Andante Con Moto
06. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
07. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-4. Finale (Allegro)
CD11
01. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-1. Molto Allegro
02. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
04. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-4. Finale (Allegro Assai)
05. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-1. Allegro Vivace
06. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-2. Andante Cantabile
07. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
08. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-4. Molto Allegro
This set is pure joy. These are period performances, but there's nothing hair-shirt about them. Pinnock caresses the slow movements with great affection, and throughout there's a sense of fun and enjoyment. What's exciting is the sweetness of the period-instrument sound and the suppleness and flexibility The English Concert brings to the music. They play, much of the time, as if it were chamber music, particularly in second subjects – the lyrical passages, that is, where they shape the phrases with a warmth and refinement you hardly expect in orchestral music. Timing is quietly witty, yet not at all contrived or artificial: it's the sort of expressive refinement that depends on listening to one another, not on the presence of a conductor. There's large-scale playing, too.
The middle symphonies are especially good. The opening of the brilliant K133 (No 20) has a splendid swing, with its prominent trumpets, and a real sense of a big, symphonic piece. K184 (No 26) is duly fiery and its accents are neatly judged. K201 and K202 (Nos 29 and 30) are both very impressively done: an eloquent rather than a fiery account (though something of that too) of the opening movement of K201, with a particularly euphonious and shapely Andante.
The finales of both are done with exceptional vitality and the rhythmic resilience that's characteristic of these performances.
Pinnock's Jupiter (No 41) is truly outstanding. The first movement is duly weighty, but energetically paced, and its critical junctures timed with a keen sense of their role in the shape of the whole. In the Andante he draws an extraordinarily beautiful, almost sensuous sound from The English Concert, and the lines are moulded with tenderness. This, above all, is the quality that distinguishes Pinnock's recordings from all others, this natural and musical sound, deriving from the way the players are intently listening to one another; and it's fitting that it reaches its high point in the Jupiter. As for the finale: well, it's decidedly quick, giving the impression of a performance in which the orchestra is pressed to an extent that its ensemble playing is under stress, though it holds together. It's a very bold, outspoken reading, which leaves one gasping afresh at the music's originality.
In short, quite outstanding performances, unfailingly musical, wholly natural and unaffected, often warmly expressive in the slow music and always falling very happily on the ear, with no trace of the harshness that some think is inevitable with period instruments. They are excellently recorded, with the properly prominent wind balance helping to characterise the sound world of each work.
CD1
01. Symphony No.1 In E Flat, K.16-1. Molto Allegro
02. Symphony No.1 In E Flat, K.16-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.1 In E Flat, K.16-3. Presto
04. Symphony In F, K.App.223-1. Allegro Assai
05. Symphony In F, K.App.223-2. Andante
06. Symphony In F, K.App.223-3. Presto
07. Symphony No.4 In D, K.19-1. Allegro
08. Symphony No.4 In D, K.19-2. Andante
09. Symphony No.4 In D, K.19-3. Presto
10. Symphony No.5 In B Flat, K.22-1. Allegro
11. Symphony No.5 In B Flat, K.22-2. Andante
12. Symphony No.5 In B Flat, K.22-3. Molto Allegro
13. Symphony No.7a In G, K.App. 221, "Alte Lambacher"-1. Allegro Maestoso
14. Symphony No.7a In G, K.App. 221, "Alte Lambacher"-2. Andante
15. Symphony No.7a In G, K.App. 221, "Alte Lambacher"-3. Presto
16. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-1. Allegro
17. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-2. Andante
18. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-3. Menuetto
19. Symphony No.6 In F, K.43-4. Allegro
CD2
01. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-1. Overture
02. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.7 In D, K.45-4. Molto Allegro
05. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-1. (Allegro)
06. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-3. Menuetto
08. Symphony No.8 In D, K.48-4. (Allegro)
09. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-1. Allegro
10. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-2. Andante
11. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-3. Menuetto
12. Symphony No.9 In C, K.73-4. Molto Allegro
13. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-1. Allegro Maestoso
14. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-2. Andante
15. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-3. Menuetto
16. Symphony No.43 In F, K.76-4. Allegro
17. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-1. Allegro
18. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-2. Andante
19. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-3. Menuet
20. Symphony No.55 In B Flat, K.App.214-4. Allegro
21. Symphony No.44 In D, K.81-1. Allegro
22. Symphony No.44 In D, K.81-2. Andante
23. Symphony No.44 In D, K.81-3. Allegro Molto
CD3
01. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-1. Allegro
02. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.47 In D, K.97-4. Presto
05. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-1. Allegro
06. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-3. Menuetto
08. Symphony No.45 In D, K.95-4. Allegro
09. Symphony No.11 In D, K.84-1. Allegro
10. Symphony No.11 In D, K.84-2. Andante
11. Symphony No.11 In D, K.84-3. Allegro
12. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-1. Allegro
13. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-2. Andante
14. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-3. Menuet-Trio
15. Symphony In B Flat Major, K. App. 216-4. Allegro Molto
16. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-1. Allegro
17. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-2. Andantino
18. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-3. Menuetto
19. Symphony No.42 In F, K.75-4. Allegro
20. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-1. Allegro
21. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-2. Andante
22. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-3. Menuetto
23. Symphony No.46 In C, K.96-4. Molto Allegro
CD4
01. Symphony No.10 In G, K.74-1. (Allegro)
02. Symphony No.10 In G, K.74-2. (Andante)
03. Symphony No.10 In G, K.74-3. (Allegro)
04. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-1. Allegro
05. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-2. Andante
06. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-3. Menuetto
07. Symphony No.12 In G, K.110-4. Allegro
08. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-1. Allegro
09. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-2. Andante
10. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-3. Menuetto
11. Symphony No.13 In F, K.112-4. Molto Allegro
12. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-1. Allegro Moderato
13. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-2. Andante
14. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-3. Menuetto
15. Symphony No.14 In A, K.114-4. Allegro Molto
16. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-1. Allegro
17. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-2. Andante
18. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-3. Menuetto
19. Symphony No.15 In G, K.124-4. Presto
CD5
01. Symphony No.16 In C, K.128-1. Allegro Maestoso
02. Symphony No.16 In C, K.128-2. Andante Grazioso
03. Symphony No.16 In C, K.128-3. Allegro
04. Symphony No.17 In G, K.129-1. Allegro
05. Symphony No.17 In G, K.129-2. Andante
06. Symphony No.17 In G, K.129-3. Allegro
07. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-1. Allegro
08. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-2. Andante Grazioso
09. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-3. Menuetto
10. Symphony No.18 In F, K.130-4. Allegro Molto
11. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-1. Allegro
12. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-2. Andante
13. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-3. Menuetto
14. Symphony No.19 In E Flat, K.132-4. Allegro
15. Symphony No.26 In E Flat, K.184-1. Molto Presto
16. Symphony No.26 In E Flat, K.184-2. Andante
17. Symphony No.26 In E Flat, K.184-3. Allegro
CD6
01. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-1. Allegro
02. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.20 In D, K.133-4. Allegro
05. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-1. Allegro
06. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-3. Menuetto
08. Symphony No.21 In A, K.134-4. Allegro
09. Symphony No.22 In C, K.162-1. Allegro Assai
10. Symphony No.22 In C, K.162-2. Andantino Grazioso
11. Symphony No.22 In C, K.162-3. Presto Assai
12. Symphony No.23 In D, K.181-1. Allegro Spirituoso
13. Symphony No.23 In D, K.181-2. Andantino
14. Symphony No.23 In D, K.181-3. Presto Assai
15. Symphony No.27 In G, K.199-1. Allegro
16. Symphony No.27 In G, K.199-2. Andantino Grazioso
17. Symphony No.27 In G, K.199-3. Presto
CD7
01. Symphony No.24 In B Flat, K.182-1. Allegro Spiritoso
02. Symphony No.24 In B Flat, K.182-2. Andantino Grazioso
03. Symphony No.24 In B Flat, K.182-3. Allegro
04. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-1. Allegro Con Brio
05. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-2. Andante
06. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-3. Menuetto
07. Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183-4. Allegro
08. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-1. Molto Allegro
09. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-2. Andantino Con Moto
10. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-3. Menuetto-Trio
11. Symphony No.30 In D, K.202-4. Presto
12. Symphony No.31 In D, K.297-"Paris"-1. Allegro Assai
13. Symphony No.31 In D, K.297-"Paris"-2. Andante
14. Symphony No.31 In D, K.297-"Paris"-3. Allegro
CD8
01. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-1. Allegro Moderato
02. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-3. Menuetto
04. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201-4. Allegro Con Spirito
05. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-1. Allegro Spiritoso
06. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-2. Andante
07. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
08. Symphony No.28 In C, K.200-4. Presto
09. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-1. Allegro Assai
10. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-2. Andante Moderato
11. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-3. Menuetto
12. Symphony No.33 In B Flat, K.319-4. Finale (Allegro Assai)
CD9
01. Symphony No.32 In G, K.318 (Overture In G)-1. Allegro Spiritoso
02. Symphony No.32 In G, K.318 (Overture In G)-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.32 In G, K.318 (Overture In G)-3. Tempo I
04. Symphony No.34 In C, K.338-1. Allegro Vivace
05. Symphony No.34 In C, K.338-2. Andante Di Molto Più Tosto Allegretto
06. Symphony No.34 In C, K.338-3. Finale (Allegro Vivace)
07. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-1. Allegro Con Spirito
08. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-2. Andante
09. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-3. Menuetto
10. Symphony No.35 In D, K.385 "Haffner"-4. Finale (Presto)
11. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-1. Adagio-Allegro Spiritoso
12. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-2. Andante
13. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-3. Menuetto
14. Symphony No.36 In C, K.425-"Linz"-4. Finale (Presto)
CD10
01. Symphony No.38 In D, K.504 "Prague"-1. Adagio-Allegro
02. Symphony No.38 In D, K.504 "Prague"-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.38 In D, K.504 "Prague"-3. Finale (Presto)
04. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-1. Adagio-Allegro
05. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-2. Andante Con Moto
06. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
07. Symphony No.39 In E Flat, K.543-4. Finale (Allegro)
CD11
01. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-1. Molto Allegro
02. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-2. Andante
03. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
04. Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-4. Finale (Allegro Assai)
05. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-1. Allegro Vivace
06. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-2. Andante Cantabile
07. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
08. Symphony No.41 In C, K.551-"Jupiter"-4. Molto Allegro
This set is pure joy. These are period performances, but there's nothing hair-shirt about them. Pinnock caresses the slow movements with great affection, and throughout there's a sense of fun and enjoyment. What's exciting is the sweetness of the period-instrument sound and the suppleness and flexibility The English Concert brings to the music. They play, much of the time, as if it were chamber music, particularly in second subjects – the lyrical passages, that is, where they shape the phrases with a warmth and refinement you hardly expect in orchestral music. Timing is quietly witty, yet not at all contrived or artificial: it's the sort of expressive refinement that depends on listening to one another, not on the presence of a conductor. There's large-scale playing, too.
The middle symphonies are especially good. The opening of the brilliant K133 (No 20) has a splendid swing, with its prominent trumpets, and a real sense of a big, symphonic piece. K184 (No 26) is duly fiery and its accents are neatly judged. K201 and K202 (Nos 29 and 30) are both very impressively done: an eloquent rather than a fiery account (though something of that too) of the opening movement of K201, with a particularly euphonious and shapely Andante.
The finales of both are done with exceptional vitality and the rhythmic resilience that's characteristic of these performances.
Pinnock's Jupiter (No 41) is truly outstanding. The first movement is duly weighty, but energetically paced, and its critical junctures timed with a keen sense of their role in the shape of the whole. In the Andante he draws an extraordinarily beautiful, almost sensuous sound from The English Concert, and the lines are moulded with tenderness. This, above all, is the quality that distinguishes Pinnock's recordings from all others, this natural and musical sound, deriving from the way the players are intently listening to one another; and it's fitting that it reaches its high point in the Jupiter. As for the finale: well, it's decidedly quick, giving the impression of a performance in which the orchestra is pressed to an extent that its ensemble playing is under stress, though it holds together. It's a very bold, outspoken reading, which leaves one gasping afresh at the music's originality.
In short, quite outstanding performances, unfailingly musical, wholly natural and unaffected, often warmly expressive in the slow music and always falling very happily on the ear, with no trace of the harshness that some think is inevitable with period instruments. They are excellently recorded, with the properly prominent wind balance helping to characterise the sound world of each work.
Classical | Discography | FLAC / APE
As a ISRA.CLOUD's PREMIUM member you will have the following benefits:
- Unlimited high speed downloads
- Download directly without waiting time
- Unlimited parallel downloads
- Support for download accelerators
- No advertising
- Resume broken downloads