Mozart: The Symphonies

Product Information

Symphonies 1-20 are in stereo; 21-41 are mono. The mono sound is very clear and not congested, and I enjoyed the mono recordings as much as the stereo ones.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent the majority of his short life in Salzburg. His life in Vienna is documented in museums after he left Salzburg. One of the exhibits depicts the life of Europeans in the 1700s, as well as a slice of it. Cathedrals built during the Baroque can be found north of the Alps in Salzburg. The best acoustics are found in the pews immediately beneath the dome. Mozart’s second home is the setting for his residence. Mozart’s father, Le, is buried in Salzburg, whereas Mozart is buried in Vienna. Along with No. 25, Symphony No. 29 is one of the better known of Mozart’s “early” symphonies. The opening movement features a brilliant theme, graceful yet insistent. In the second Andante movement Mozart shows shows marked improvement from his earlier symphonies, shifting around the melody, keeping the slower stuff intriguing. The short Minuetto is not his strongest but the Allegro con Spirito makes up for it, passing melodies around the strings and daring shifts in tone to keep it exciting.Mozart’s orchestral work spans 24 years from 1764 to 1788. According to the most recent investigations, Mozart wrote up to 68 complete works of this type. Mozart revised some of the symphonies (K.297, 385, and 550) after they had already been written. Piano sonatas and other piano pieces were Mozart’s first attempts at writing music. Mozart wrote 20 piano solo works between 1782 and 1786, including the piano solo classics (sonatas, variations, fantasias, suites, fugues, and rondo); the Horn Concertos are frequently performed by professional horn players. Almost everything he wrote for the piano was intended to be played solo. Mozart created over 100 types of dance for orchestra, such as Minuetto (more than 100), Contredanse, and Allemande. Mozart’s sacred music, which combines Gregorian choral elements with rigorous counterpoint, has a rich stylistic mosaic. All of his sacred music is distinguished by consistent styling and symmetry. The symphonies K. 19b, 66c, 66d, 66e, Anh.C 11.07, and Anh.C 11.08 are lost, and it is uncertain whether they are Mozart's work: they have not been included in the list below.

Having failed to deliver my promised review of the Sony Bruno Walter – The Complete Columbia Collection (Sony 19075923242, If you want to sample the calibre of this music-making, observe K 129, Mozart’s paean of boyhood or the panache of the Paris, K 297. To float like a butterfly and sting like a bee! Nor is there any soup: ostinatos are crystal clear. Mozart’s death came at a young age, even for the time period. Yet his meteoric rise to fame and accomplishment at a very early age is reminiscent of more contemporary musical artists whose star had burned out way too soon. At the time of his death, Mozart was considered one of the greatest composers of all time. His music presented a bold expression, oftentimes complex and dissonant, and required high technical mastery from the musicians who performed it. His works remained secure and popular throughout the 19th century, as biographies about him were written and his music enjoyed constant performances and renditions by other musicians. His work influenced many composers that followed -- most notably Beethoven. Along with his friend Joseph Haydn, Mozart conceived and perfected the grand forms of symphony, opera, string ensemble, and concerto that marked the classical period. In particular, his operas display an uncanny psychological insight, unique to music at the time, and continue to exert a particular fascination for musicians and music lovers today. Mozart’s dislike of Salzburg is understandable, given that at the time the town was merely a small regional town. There was nothing more appealing than sitting around tables and chairs listening to music, and the people here were content to do so. Although Mozart despised Salzburg and had harsh words for his former employer, the Archbishop chose to come here and perform for Mozart. The Hofburg Palace, which is now a magnificent venue, houses imperial apartments, libraries, museums, churches, and riding schools, many of which are open to the general public. Salzburg has progressed greatly since Mozart’s time, and the town now has a wide range of unique attractions to offer residents and visitors alike. Mozart’s Love-hate Relationship With Salzburg Every year in late January, Mozart Week is celebrated. In the Old Town, Mozart Piano Sonatas are held in St. Peter’s Abbey. It was one of my favorite Salzburg experiences to see the Marionette Theater perform. Even though the music is not performed live, it is impressive.Over 600 pieces of orchestral, chamber, opera, and choral music were composed by the German composer. Mozart grew up in the Mozart family‘s musical home of Salzburg. The finales of both are done with exceptional vitality and the rhythmic resilience that's characteristic of these performances. Favorite Moment:While I the opening theme is a simple genius and I love the violin interplay in the fourth movement, my favorite section is this blending of winds and violins in the Andante; a precursor for the masterful orchestration in the Andantes of the later symphonies. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. He wrote over 600 pieces of music, including symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music. Many of his works are still popular today and are performed regularly by orchestras around the world. So how many symphonies did Mozart actually write? The answer is 41. Mozart composed his first symphony when he was just eight years old. His last symphony, Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”), was completed just weeks before his death in 1791. In between, he wrote a total of 40 symphonies. Interestingly, Mozart did not write symphonies for public performance until he was in his twenties. His early symphonies were written for private concerts at the court of Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo of Salzburg. It was not until Mozart moved to Vienna in 1781 that he began writing symphonies for public concerts. Mozart’s symphonies are divided into three main periods: early, middle, and late. The early symphonies (Nos. 1-10) are mostly in the style of Johann Christian Bach and other contemporary composers. They are shorter in length and not as complex as Mozart’s later works. The middle symphonies (Nos. 11-20) show the influence of Joseph Haydn, with whom Mozart had a close working relationship. These symphonies are more innovative in form and harmony, and are longer than the early symphonies. The late symphonies (Nos. 21-41) are the most progressive and mature of Mozart’s works. They are characterized by bolder harmonic progressions, more complex textures, and larger orchestrations. The last three symphonies (Nos. 39-41) are particularly noteworthy, as they are among the greatest works of the Classical era. Mozart’s symphonies continue to be popular with audiences and performers alike. They are regularly performed and recorded by orchestras all over the world. And new generations of music lovers are discovering the joys of Mozart’s symphonies every day.