Berliner Philharmoniker - Mozart - Serenade In G, K-525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (2015/2021) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Both Mozart and Karajan hailed from Salzburg, the most musical of cities. Throughout his career, Herbie championed the causes of the various Nachtmusiks that Mozart wrote for their hometown: K 247 (recorded in 1966), K 251 (ditto) K 287 (mutiple recordings) and K 334 (ditto). Defiant of convention and pinched-faced critics, he performed them in full orchestral dress. There's a connection here between these two guys that defies analysis but it exists all the same. And given the quality of the music, Herbie's advocacy is laudable.

This account of K 287 is one of the last that Herbie made with the Berlin Phil. Happiness is evident as if Meyer-gate was forgotten. The sheen of the strings and lustre of horns are a standing reproach to the current Berlin Philharmonic which nowadays incarnates a nondescript palette. And yes - what music it is! Surely Einstein was correct when he said that any of these Nachtmusiks is more valuable than entire acts of Lohengrin or Tannhauser.

The K 525 was recorded earlier but it's a model of its kind: well-groomed but not overly so. Legato is kept in check. A ladle of Herbie Soup it ain't.

Mozart, no mean violinist in his own right, once told his father that he had played K 287 as if he were the best fiddler in Europe. Short of that recording showing up, make do with this performance.

TRACKLIST

1. Berliner Philharmoniker - 1. Allegro
2. Berliner Philharmoniker - 2. Romance (Andante)
3. Berliner Philharmoniker - 3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
4. Berliner Philharmoniker - 4. Rondo (Allegro)
5. Berliner Philharmoniker - 1. Allegro
6. Berliner Philharmoniker - 2. Tema con variazioni: Andante grazioso
7. Berliner Philharmoniker - 3. Menuetto (I)
8. Berliner Philharmoniker - 4. Adagio
9. Berliner Philharmoniker - 5. Menuetto (II)
10. Berliner Philharmoniker - 6. Andante - Allegro molto



Thanks to the Original customer.