Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Rondo (Allegretto grazioso)
4. Allegro
5. Rondeau (Andante grazioso)
6. Adagio - Allegro
7. Thema. Andantino cantabile - Var.I-V -Allegretto
8. Largo - Allegro
9. Andante
10. Allegretto

Disc 2:

1. Allegro di molto
2. Tema con variazioni: Tema - Var. I/VI
3. Allegro moderato
4. Andantino sostenuto e cantabile
5. Rondo (Allegro)
6. Allegro con spirito
7. Allegro
8. Molto allegro
9. Adagio
10. Allegretto (con variazioni)

Disc 3:

1. Allegro vivace
2. Andante sostenuto
3. Rondo (Allegro)
4. Allegro
5. Andante con moto
6. Rondeau (Allegro)
7. Andantino cantabile
8. Allegro
9. Tema (Andante) con variazioni
10. Allegro con spirito
11. Andantino cantabile
12. Allegretto

Disc 4:

1. Adagio - Molto allegro
2. Tempo di minuetto
3. Allegro
4. Tema (Andante) con variazioni
5. Tempo di menuetto
6. Allegro
7. Tempo di minuetto
8. Allegro molto
9. Andante
10. Presto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78320 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2006-09-19
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .51 pounds

Album Description
SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION DIGIPAK For the grand finale of her best-selling Mozart Project, Anne-Sophie Mutter has joined with pianist Lambert Orkis for her first-ever recording of Mozart's violin sonatas. Anne-Sophie Mutter's Mozart Project has been nothing if not ambitious. Her aim: a survey of all Mozart's major compositions for solo violin. The first two releases, the Violin Concertos and a selection of Piano Trios has both been commercial and critical successes around the world.

The final segment, the Violin Sonatas, is being released as part of Deutsche Grammophon's "Mozart Forever" celebrations. It will also mark an additional milestone: the 30th anniversary of Mutter's concert debut. This live CD recording took place during Mutter's performances in Munich in February 2006, which were also filmed for TV broadcast and DVD release.

Amazon.com
There are many excellent recordings of Mozart's Violin Sonatas on disc to choose from, but Anne-Sophie Mutter's interpretations rise quickly to the top. Her approach is certainly closer to "old fashioned" than "authentic instrument." She sings the lines as if they were arias and uses vibrato liberally to emphasize the unwritten texts. Her use of dynamics can be extreme, from a soft murmur to a full-blooded cry. There is a sense of warmth and even rapture in some of the slow movements that is absent from most of the "authentic" recordings. Mutter's vigorous approach to the allegros captures attention. Her great technique is most welcome in the formality of the menuettos. Lambert Orkis's piano accompaniments are handsome and supportive throughout, and his work as a fortepianist pays off well. He has an ingratiating touch and really shines in K. 454 and K. 481, where the piano is given equal footing with the violin. There are almost four-and-a-half hours of music here, and all of it is beautifully performed. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Best ever.
Recently I compared three new mozart violine sonata recordings (Hhilary Hahn, Anne Sophie Mutter, Rachel Podger). I also compared these recording to my favorite Grumiaux's.
Until recently, I was not a great fan of ASM or Hilary Hahn. I was rather a enthusiastic fan of Podger and Manze (I have all of Manze's and most of Podger's).
But I have to confess that Mozart by authentic appoach and fresh young Hahn's approach did not move my heart at all.
Mutter's Mozart stirred and moved my heart so intensely that I could'nt do anything when hearing the music.
Mutter's Mozart may be odd to the listener who is familiar to authentic approach or Grumiax's gracious but too velvety approach. But her Mozart has enormous emotional power. Her playing sounds like opera aria containing various emotions and various stories. She sometimes whispers, sometimes sobs and sometimes crys (esp. No. 304 although I prefer Mutter's Berlin Recital recording)
I strongly recommend this recording. It's not a background music like many recent recordings. It's a real music that can heal our souls.

Great Daily Listening: Much Better than the Concert Performances!
When Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lambert Orkis were in Boston last fall, I attended the concert that featured some of Mozart's violin sonatas from these recordings. While I enjoyed the immediacy of the live performance, I felt that Ms. Mutter tended to overwhelm Mr. Orkis both in volume and style. That was a shame because the piano parts in Mozart's violin sonatas are always at least as important as the violin parts. Having been a little disappointed, I was, however, wowed during the encores when suddenly a balance appeared. Ms. Mutter was quieter and more restrained and Mr. Orkis seemed less constrained. It was magical.

Thus encouraged, I bought a copy of this CD set, and both performers graciously autographed it.

On arriving home and turning the music on, I was stunned! This was much better music than I had just heard, even during the encores.

I don't recall ever enjoying a recording more than a live concert of the same music by the same performers, but there's no comparison in this case. Both Ms. Mutter and Mr. Orkis soar enthusiastically . . . while also retreating tactfully and touchingly where that's appropriate. The balance between the two performers is almost perfect.

Some people criticize Ms. Mutter for putting too much passion and personal style into classical works. In this case, there's a bit of restraint in delivering that passion and style that takes Mozart from being a composer from a prior century and transforms his music into a rewarding emotional presence now. The exuberance of his genius seems to flow from both performers as they provide a modern (but not too modern) interpretation of this exceptional music.

I find myself listening with new understanding to these sonatas virtually every day.

For Anne Sophie-Mutter fans, there's no doubt that this is one of her top five recordings. If you don't own it, you've missed a treat.

Mozart played by Mutter a must!
This set of CD's is a must buy for anybody who is a fan of Mozart's music and/or a fan of Anne-Sophie Mutter's playing. The greatest moments of these sonatas by Mozart happen in the slow movements where Mozart is at his most profound. Ms. Mutter and her pianist Lambert Orkis take these movements to heart, providing performances which are stunning to say the least. In Mozart's music not a note is out of place, and in these performances every note is handled with great care.

Anne-Sophie Mutter burst on to world stage performing Mozart's music. She is known for her interpretations of his music. Ms. Mutter adds considerably to that reputation with this set of recordings. Mozart's music is beautiful and Ms. Mutter's playing is beautiful. You cannot go wrong with this set of CD's!