Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Stephen Gunzenhauser, Capella Istropolitana :: Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4, K218; Sinfonia concertante, K364

Fine Recording Of K.364 and K.218 on Naxos

JohnL | Alexander, NC United States | 04/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many of the early Naxos recordings from the late 1980's feature Takako Nishizaki, a very fine Japanese violinist. It so happens, she is the wife of the founder and president of Naxos, Klaus Heymann. She plays wonderfully on this CD, as well as the other two volumes of Mozart's music for Violin & Orchestra. Of course, the Sinfonia Concertante K.364 features both violin and its "cousin", the viola. Mozart penned this great Sinfonia concertante (literally, a symphony in the nature of a concerto) in 1779. He really put a lot into this work. With this magnificent composition Mozart was able to produce a work that is a real pleasure to hear. It is played quite nicely here, with the viola part dispatched by Ladislav Kyselak. Quite possibly Mozart himself played the demanding viola part himself at its original premiere, although it is not known for sure. Mozart did play the viola later in Vienna on his famous quartet evenings with Haydn, Dittersdorf, and Vanhal. He also gave the viola a prominent role in his finest chamber works in the last decade or so of his tragically short life. The Violin Concerto K.218 was composed in October of 1775. Nishizaki's solo playing is wonderful, and she has very good support from the Capella Istropolitana conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser. Overall, this is winning CD from Naxos. The Sinfonia Concertante is not the best version available, but at this nice price, you will find there is much to enjoy here. (If I could, I would give this 4.5 stars). I recommend it, for sure."

Scintillating

David Saemann | 01/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an entirely delightful CD. First of all, the sound engineering is marvelous. Naxos hired some of the finest sound engineers in the business to make their recordings in Bratislava in the '80's, people who have latterly worked for Harmonia Mundi. This is a prime example. Secondly, the orchestra playing under Gunzenhauser is beautiful, crisp yet warm sounding, with a excellent sense of timing. Takako Nishizaki is a splendid Mozartian, as attested to by her Mozart sonata recordings. Her approach to the concerto is lucid, brilliantly articulated, and even a little winsome. In the Sinfonia Concertante, she is joined by a violist who is given no biography in the album notes, but who plays his part as beautifully as I've ever heard it done. In sum, this is wonderful Mozart regardless of price."