Search - Horenstein, Mozart, Vienna Symphony Orchestra :: Conducts Mozart

What a pleasant surprise!

Gregory M. Zinkl | Chicago, IL | 08/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here I was, thinking that Horenstein is mostly a Bruckner/Mahler conductor, and then I stumble on this wonderful Mozart.A note about Mozart and this reviewer. I find most Mozart performances to be much less than they could be. They are either too prissy, trying to be elegant all the time, or too heaven-storming, like LvBeethoven. I think his music is somewhere in between. So I guess the message is: I'm particular!II of 41 is one of the best ever. Every sfzp is done with grace, elegance, and yes, drama, but totally within context. The Jupiter can be annoying when poorly performed--especially I and III; here they are very enjoyable. So enjoyable, it's one of my favorite recordings.The Prague, yum, what a wonderful performance. A real surprise is how enjoyable the choral/orchestral pieces are. Everything has that "Just right" feel to it, without the superstar vocalists, and certainly without the superstar orchestra.Which I should comment on. The VSO, never on the same level as the VPO, or even a distant third, is on its best behavior here, more so than in these forces recording of Mahler 1. Maybe they appreciated having something really familiar on their stands! What comes across is happy music-making.The engineering is mono, but it's fine.The only thing to mourn about this set is the lack of Symphonies 40 (especially!), as well as 25, 35, 36, etc. etc.!"

Lovable collector item!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 11/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Horenstein and Walter as you know are two well distinguished Mahlerian conductors. So under this perspective this Mozart looks like so expressive, bright perhaps so revitalizing, filled of joy and histamine. The point to remark here resides in the fact that after have been exploring every little corner of the Mahlerian Universe, it seems they have much major propulsion to conduct Mozart precisely emphasizing the ravishing approach.



The Jupiter is played with fast tempi, but maintaining this sense of wholeness and total conviction of supreme Dionysian eloquence.



So please, when you listen these admirable and genuine treasures, take in mind this premise because it is a very important clue to understand and calibrate the specific weight of that vision.



"

Heavenly perfection a magical recording no wonder its so dif

Marcolorenzo | Italy | 10/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have this recording on an LP vinyl disc. It is absolute perfection. It will restore your fragmented mind and may even open the door to paradise for you. I have not heard the CD copy but if it's anything like the original LP and the master tape from which the CD was transcribed it's worth the search and even a used copy."