Track Listing

1. Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200 (189k); I. Allegro spiritoso
2. Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200 (189k); II. Andante
3. Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200 (189k); III. Menuetto. Allegretto -Trio
4. Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200 (189k); IV. Presto
5. Symphony No. 33 in B-Flat Major, K. 319; I. Allegro assai
6. Symphony No. 33 in B-Flat Major, K. 319; II. Andante moderato
7. Symphony No. 33 in B-Flat Major, K. 319; III. Menuetto - Trio
8. Symphony No. 33 in B-Flat Major, K. 319; IV. Finale. Allegro assai
9. Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner"; I. Allegro con spirito
10. Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner"; II. Andante
11. Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner"; III. Menuetto - Trio
12. Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner"; IV. Finale. Presto
13. Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"; I. Allegro
14. Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"; II. Romance. Andante
15. Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"; III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
16. Serenade in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"; IV. Rondo. Allegro
17. Overture to the Marriage of Figaro, K. 492

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67377 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2006-08-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

Simply the finest examples of Mozart orchestral playing...ever
I find it curious how Szell's critics point to the precision of his performances and lack of rubato as an indication that they are devoid of emotion, as though emotion, sloppy playing and excess rubato must come hand in hand. Performing Mozart well means expressing the essence of the work through a careful combination of style, phrasing, pacing and **some** rubato, which Szell does perfectly.

Those who are looking for examples of how Mozart should be played by an orchestra, MUST listen to these recordings. Szell's Mozart has consistenly been considered some of the best, but these performances are the absolute top.

Phrasing, balance, pacing are all not only perfectly executed, but expertly thought through by Szell. And yes, the performances are very precise.

Szell Conducts Mozart
These performances first appeared on LP during the 1960s, and are being reissued on Sony's recently revamped Great Performances series.

It must have taken some arm twisting on Szell's part to get Symphonies K. 200 and K. 319 recorded, as neither were repertoire staples in the 1960s (they still appear relatively rarely). Kudos to both Szell and Columbia for undertaking the project. The Marriage of Figaro Overture, Symphony K. 385, and Eine kleine Nachtmusik have appeared in several incarnations since their original issue.

As with nearly everything else they recorded, the Szell/Cleveland combination brings forth performances of common sensibility and uncommon balance. The tempos and phrasing for each work and movement seem inevitable. The various choirs of the orchestra are balanced with chamber-like precision, so that each voice is heard in proper perspective.

Originally recorded at Severance Hall in the 1960s, the sound on this disc is greatly improved over all previous issues. Dynamics, which were constricted, have been opened up. The strings have lost their aggressive edge and have a sweeter, more natural character. It's well worth duplicating or replacing the earlier issues of these recordings, and a must if you don't have them already.

Note: All the performances on this CD have been reissued as part of Sony's Original Jacket 10 CD reissue (ASIN: B000I5YRQ0) which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Szell Creates The Cleveland Sound: Openess, Transparency, & Clarity of the orchestra...
After reading reviews here, and elsewhere, people still do not understand the greatness of Szell. He, alone, among all prior conductors discovered the magic sound of 'precision'. He took "practice makes perfect" to beyond normal human endurance. And achieved 'The Cleveland Sound': An Openness and Transparency of the the entire orchestral sound field... based on clarity of music through precision. Szell's notes and chords ring out, in tremendous dynamic range, due to transparency. His 'speed playing' is always totally clear, for every note and chord. Everyone else 'blurs' a bit in high speed playing....just not enough practice.

Szell is the Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Paul Brown, and Bill Bellichick of classical music...precision, practice, again, again, Get it right! You want to be the greatest ever? It's not free, Gentlemen, Again! Dammit!

There's a reason National Public Radio chose for the "Best of the Millenium" CD series, the Beethoven 9th by Szell, with Robert Shaw on chorus. Who else to play the greatest symphony ever, but the best ever? Mozart? Szell was called "the next Mozart" as a child prodigy in Europe. Thrilling? Szell invented that...or better yet, perfected it.

Just this January 2006, as a private tribute to Szell, the Vienna Philharmonic began 'The official Mozart 250th Birthday Concert', broadcast live worldwide, with Szell's own personal Mozart Discovery: The Piano Concerto 25. Szell re-introduced the 25 to Vienna, in Vienna, with The Vienna, in 1934 after 150 years of dormant silence. Now, it's one of Mozart's best loved.

Please buy Szell! ...especially the new DSD releases, the latest digital remastering. And enjoy the transparent openness of the ride.