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Sophisticated Jun 26, 2008
Abbado did not start recording Mozart Symphonies until relatively late in his career, but he brings to them the full level of accomplishment that he gives to other music. The sound engineering on this disc is generally good, although the strings sound somewhat rubbery in places. Abbado is a relaxed and refined Mozartian. He takes a number of repeats in the Linz Symphony, repeats that were unfamiliar to the older generation of Mozart conductors. The Linz receives a lively but refined reading--Abbado's take on Mozart's sonorities is highly elegant. I prefer Sir Colin Davis's rendition with the Staatskapelle Dresden for its greater feeling of familiarity, but Abbado is certainly worth listening to. The Sinfonia Concertante is a little less engaging. Abbado's conducting here is relaxed and intimate, but the soloists' playing is somewhat nebulous and bland, especially the rather acid sounding violinist. On CD, I think the Naxos performance with Takako Nishizaki is more recommendable, as well as being cheaper, too. Fans of Abbado, nevertheless, will want this CD.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Stylish all the way, but the temperature is too low May 19, 2006
When Abbado misfires in Mozart, it's because he mistakes reticence for refinement. That happens on this CD quite a lot, particularly in the smiling and often recorded Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola. It wasn't smart to pick the Berlin Phil's first-desk players for the solo parts. They sound impersonal, as if they are sitll section players rather than stars, and since Abbado favors brisk speeds, the solo parts lack bite and depth. Everything rushes by too fast to show any persoanlity.
By contrast, the brief Sym. #23 (at 9 min. it's even littler than Sym. #25, the "little G minor") is perfectly judged, a fleeting delight with a breathtaking melody in the slow movement--one wishes for more, more, more. Abbado's "Linz" Sym. #36 needs a shot in the arm. He skates over the surface very prettily but to no great consequnce. Late Mozart deserves better than elegance and sophisticated orchestral playing, but that's all it gets here.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 BPO hard to beat playing Mozart Nov 16, 2001
The centerpiece of the CD, Mozart's Symphony in C, K425, experiences an interesting reading from Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker. As the previous reviewer rightly points out, the tempi used by Abbado are slow, but IMHO not heavy-handed.Part of me thinks that giving this magnificent piece a sedate reading is the correct thing to do, considering that it took Mozart all of 4 days (no typo there) to compose this work. I believe that Abbado must be using one of the versions of the score where the 2nd mevement is marked 'poco adagio', which contrasts this movement very nicely with the 1st and 4th. All in all a splendid experience - even if you own one or two Linzer symphonies already, this one makes a nice contrast for a hurry-free evening in front of the fire.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
More Mozart Apr 21, 2001
On this disc, Claudio Abbado leads the Berlin Philharmonic through yet more music by Mozart. You say how many more takes on Mozart can be made, well in this case it is three. The infrequently recorded Symphony No. 23 is first (all nine minutes of it) and even in its brevity it is as enjoyable as any of the middle Symphonies. Next is "Sinfonia Concertante," K. 364 which is a concerto for both viola and violin, and it is delightful. Finally, comes the CD's meat and potatoes piece, the 36th Symphony also known as the "Linzer." Abbado manages to draw his interpretation out to nearly twice the length of his Berlin predecessor Karl Bohm's recording of thirty years earlier on DG Originals, and Abbado's performance offers an interesting contrast to Bohm's version. In all, this is fine CD but with all the numerous classic Mozart performances available by Ormandy, Szell and Bohm (among others) available at mid-line or budget price, it seems there are better places to start.
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