Related Reviews
Audiophilia.com "...once playing, it is almost impossible to turn off!" more >>
ResMusica.com une présentation exceptionnellement belle more >>
6moons.com Blue Moon Award: "...Sir Charles Mackerras' vision with the SCO is one of the very finest of the modern era..." more >>
StereoMojo Publisher’s Choice Recording: "complete mastery...One can only say bravo." more >>
The Berkshire Review "...the greatest interpretation of the Mozart symphonies of our moment..." more >>
Qantas in-flight magazine Original passsion and flair...Outstanding. more >>
Sunday Times Number 1 Classical Record of 2008 more >>
HMV Choice Number 1 Classical Record of 2008 more >>
AudioVideoHD "En definitiva, una auténtica delicia, con una grabación exquisita, característica intrínseca de Linn Records." more >>
Fanfare "Magnificent." more >>
Star Ledger of New Jersey "...blending period style with modern virtuosity." more >>
Classica Repertoire "Nous aimons...beaucoup" more >>
Scherzo 'Excepcional' Award from the Spanish publication more >>
Crescendo An "admirable" performance more >>
MusicWeb International Recording of the Month: "...a benchmark of our time." more >>
Expansion 'Mozart vive!' more >>
Opus Musica Disc of the Month more >>
Early Music Review ...powerful, individual readings. more >>
hi-fi + Quite brilliant...truly majestic. more >>
Gramophone Every bit as good as you would expect. Gramophone Recommended. more >>
HiFi News Album of the Month more >>
Klassik.com So gelingt gleichsam unter der Hand Mozart-Interpretationen, die man zu den überzeugendsten dieser Sinfonien zählen darf. more >>
The Ticket (Ireland) simply irresistible more >>
audiophile.no Linn Records har spilt inn Mozart sine fire siste symfonier. Til denne oppgaven har de selvfølgelig håndplukket Scottish Chamber Orchestra dirigert av Sir Charles Mackerras. more >>
International Record Review A vibrant and utterly gripping appearance from first moment to last, and all caught in sound that is amazingly lifelike. No Mozartian should be without these inspiring discs. more >>
The Guardian (Live) Mackerras's Mozart is full of the life-affirming vitality more often associated with youth more >>
MusicalCriticism.com "[It] really is as good as it gets." more >>
Atlanta Audio Society ...Performances that may well take their place among the best on record. more >>
BBC Music Magazine Orchestral Disc of the Month: "exhilarating ... ravishing" more >>
The Times among the very best recordings of these four symphonies on disc more >>
Audiophile Audition some spectacular readings in first class sonics more >>
McAlister Matheson Music A recording of "delicacy and spice...grandeur and exuberance" more >>
The Scotman (Live) "...power-packed Mozart that has you sitting on the edge of your seat craving more." more >>
The List exciting and thrilling more >>
MusicOMH.com Anyone who loves classical music has to own this recording...this will be one of the year's finest recordings. more >>
Independent on Sunday ...Few recordings have the authority and warmth of this release. more >>
The Observer Mozart's last four symphonies...have rarely shone as luminously as in these uplifting accounts. more >>
The Herald This will have you out of your seat with excitement...a Mozart set to match any. more >>
The Week ...Astonishing... more >>
Financial Times ...Sheer vitality... more >>
BBC Online This recording should have you stampeding to the record shops. more >>
Metro Pure delight. more >>
SA-CD.net I can't imagine Mozart being better performed...a wonderful set that will remain long in the memory. more >>
The Sunday Times Classical CD of the Week: Possibly their finest record to date...I don't know more enthralling accounts of the G minor and the Jupiter on disc. more >>
The Guardian These are the finest versions of Mozart's greatest symphonies to have appeared on disc in years. more >>
ClassicalSource.com Beautifully judged...exciting listening more >>
ClassicsTodayFrance.com An outstanding review for the orchestral recording more >>

All Reviews >>

Mozart Symphonies - SCO & Sir Charles Mackerras - LiveGuide.com

31 May 2008
LiveGuide.com
Lawson Taitte

FRESH LIFE: Veteran conductor Charles Mackerras is among the world's top leaders of Mozart, and here he gives us his latest views of the four greatest symphonies (which he had already recorded brilliantly for Telarc). Linn Records affords him state-of-the-art sonics, and he really does move into new territory with these performances.

OLD AND NEW: Mr. Mackerras has assimilated the lessons of the early-music folks and applied them to a contemporary orchestra. Horns, trumpets and drums contribute brilliance, but the woodwinds give the first-movement developments and the slow movements their uniquely poignant character. The silken violins might seem undercharacterized to fans of bygone maestros, but they are certainly seductive.

BOTTOM LINE: These may be the best versions of Symphonies 38 and 39 ever recorded, and the first movement of the G Minor and the fugal finale of the Jupiter are breathtaking - a must for Mozart lovers.

Mozart Symphonies - SCO & Sir Charles Mackerras - LiveGuide.com

Related Links