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2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 The blissful "Sinfonia Concertante" probably hasn't had a better modern reading Oct 05, 2008
Pairing the Concertone K. 190 with the far more familiar -- and interesting -- Sinfonia concertante K. 364 works well, because the earleir work is full of panache and nicely offsets the more thoughtful, soulful later work. The slow movement of K. 364 is justly admired as one of the composer's most beautiful inventions, but in fact the handling of violin and viola is masterful throughout. I haven't heard better versions of either work in a long time.
I give at least half the credit to Raymond Lepard's alert, exuberant, and knowing conducting -- he surpasses even the great Szell himself in terms of liveliness and high spirits. Szell's classic reading, with the first-desk violin and vila of the Cleveland Orchestra, was a model of style in its day, the mid-Sixties, but Sony's recording is much finer, and so is the solo work from two tasteful virtuosos in the elegant manner of Grumiaux -- Cho-Liang Lin and Jaime Laredo. They compete for who has the more beautiful tone and stylish phrasing. It's a happy tie.
I would grant this CD first place among the dozen or so versions of the Sinfonia Concertante that I know, my only quibble being that Lin could be more forceful in the finale. That aside, this recording is a pure joy.
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 From a violist's point of view... May 03, 2006
This CD is by no means "stellar". I've heard countless recordings, and I've played both solo parts (preferring the viola, of course). The orchestra is not together in a few places; in particular, the opening section of the first movement where the horns have a couple of notes that are supposed to be played in unison --- and they're not. The viola, as is almost always the case, is under-miked most of the time, and there are at least two places in the solo parts where the viola and violin should be tighter than they are.
The recording is OK - but not more. I would buy it if it was on sale, but not at full price. If you want a REAL 5-star performance, pick up the one with Perlman and Zuckerman. It would be hard to argue that it's not the best - because it is.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
One of Mozart's Best Works Apr 07, 2006
The playing on this CD is excellent. Sinfonia Concertante itself is one of Mozart's absolute best works in my opinion. One of my very favorite CDs.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
wonderfully done Oct 18, 2005
This is a great recording. The sound quality is fantastic and the playing is as well. Particularly the wonderful tone of the soloists and the way they interact in the music is really great. In the slow movement the combination of the two soloists soaring over beautifully reproduced strings is especially enjoyable. Highly recommended and nearly essential.
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Finest performance of Sinfonia Concertante available. Sep 07, 2002
Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola, and orchestra is one of his greatest masterpieces. Of the many performances I've heard of this great composition, this is the most outstanding. Cho-Liang Lin is one of the finest violinists currently performing -- with impeccable technique and intonation, a beautiful tone, and artistic sensitivity. Jaime Loredo -- an award winning violinist -- is also an outstanding violist. Unfortunately, in many performances of the Sinfonia Concertante the violist defers to a star violinist, thereby weakening the equality that Mozart gave the two instruments. Not so in this recording: Lin and Loredo play together superbly, with both instruments clearly equal yet beautifully interwoven. The English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raymond Leppard, interacts with Lin and Loredo impeccably. The lovely concertone for two violins is equally well performed and serves as a welcome bonus. If you love Mozart -- or just great string playing -- please get this outstanding CD while it's still available.
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