Mozart: Divertimenti - Scottish Chamber Orchestra (2015) [Official Linn Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Divertimenti [2015]
Alexander Janiczek / Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Tracks:
01 Serenade in E flat major, K. 375: I. Allegro maestoso
02 Serenade in E flat major, K. 375: II. Menuetto e trio
03 Serenade in E flat major, K. 375: III. Adagio
04 Serenade in E flat major, K. 375: IV. Menuetto e trio
05 Serenade in E flat major, K. 375: V. Finale. Allegro
06 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Thema mit variationen
07 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Variation I
08 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Variation II
09 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Variation III
10 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Variation IV
11 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Variation V
12 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Variation VI
13 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Menuetto e trio
14 Divertimento in F major, K. 253: Allegro assai
15 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 270: I. Allegro molto
16 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 270: II. Andantino
17 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 270: III. Menuetto e trio
18 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 270: IV. Presto
19 Divertimento in E flat major, K. 252/240a: I. Andante
20 Divertimento in E flat major, K. 252/240a: II. Menuetto e trio
21 Divertimento in E flat major, K. 252/240a: III. Polonaise
22 Divertimento in E flat major, K. 252/240a: IV. Presto assai
23 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 240: I. Allegro
24 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 240: II. Andante grazioso
25 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 240: III. Menuetto e trio
26 Divertimento in B flat major, K. 240: IV. Allego

Gramophone Choice - February 2015

'These performances wonderfully capture the charm of these Mozart chamber works, each instrument oozing a delightfully unforced sense of personality…I fancy Mozart would have smiled in approval.'

Following the success of performances and recordings of Weber's Wind Concertos with SCO principals as soloists, the SCO Wind Soloists that feature on this album have since 2012 started to explore Harmoniemusik repertoire.

This new recording includes four of the five Tafelmusik sextets for pairs of clarinets, horns and bassoons, together with the Serenade in E flat major, the first of Mozart's three great wind serenades. The Serenade in E flat major has many unusual features. Its opening fanfare - a series of repeated chords on the tonic in E flat - immediately catches the ear. The fact that Mozart avoids fatiguing the listener with a surfeit of the same sonorities, in music with a necessarily limited dynamic and instrumental range, bears eloquent testimony to his genius.

This recording captures the wealth of detail in Mozart's Divertimenti; there is something in each of them for every music lover.

Comprising pairs of clarinet, bassoons and natural horns, the players are dedicated to performing each work in a stylish and informed way, from the masterpieces of Mozart, Beethoven and Weber to twentieth-century works and contemporary commissions. The SCO Wind Soloists are: Maximiliano Martín clarinet, William Stafford clarinet, Peter Whelan bassoon, Alison Green bassoon, Alec Frank-Gemmill horn, Harry Johnstone horn.

'Like the SCO proper, they straddle a distinctive stylistic line between period sensibility and mostly modern instruments. The notable exception, the natural horns, which gave superb balance and character.' The Herald

'You'd be hard-put finding better wind ensemble playing.' The Guardian

Thanks to the original poster.