(The) Complete Mozart Edition

Advantages: Every sacred music by Mozart in 1 boxset
Disadvantages: Not the best available

...at the time like the rest of the orchestra does. Quite a few of the smaller works (the misas for example) have the traditional, but no often heard plainsong or Gregorian chant at the begining of a piece of music. It would have been preferable to have these as single tracks (as most other record labels do), as they are not central to the main piece of music, and it can be a pain fast-forwarding to the main piece if you do not want to listen to it. The whole box set seems to be a mixed bag of played well and not so well, too fast and too slow, to loud and too quiet. Overall, there is nothing for me to recommend this above any other CD or boxset except that it is a complete set. A couple of Mozart's religious works have been recorded to death (I specifically refer to the Requiem!), but quite a few don't get a look in, and recordings can be... Read review

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Advantages: Beatuful redentions of highly celebrated works
Disadvantages: Would be nicer with a broader selcetion on disc

...Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a household name, even among non-classical music lovers - he is - for many - the definition of music. This CD houses 2 works by the genius - Symphony No.40 in G minor and Symphony No.41 - Jupiter. Mozart wrote No.40 after the death of his infant daughter - this is potrayed immediatly through the minor key in which the piece begins in. It later modulates to a major key which denotes his hopefulness of moving on and closing the bereavement door. The piece culminates in a repetition and develoment of the 1st section to reiterate his pain and sorrow. Symphony No. 41 was completed just 1month after no.40, in the summer of 1788. It is nicknamed ' The Jupiter Symphony' due to its power and percieved size, particularly in the finale, where a memorable theme is heard alongside with others that have featured... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent performances in a perfect setting
Disadvantages: Very minor quibbles

...Background: When it comes to prodigious over-achievers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has to be placed somewhere at the top of the list. Despite his tragically short life from 1756-1791, his musical creativity has assured him of eternal fame as long as human civilisation performs Western classical music. But when one considers Mozart's background, one can understand where his genius came from. His father Leopold Mozart was a virtuoso violinist whose treatise on violin playing is still a standard read for any aspiring violin student today. It is also worth considering how things might have been different had female instrumentalists been able to pursue a professional career as adults - as his beloved sister Nannerl was no mean keyboard player, but obviously once she became an adult it was not really considered the done thing for her... Read review

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