Columbia SAX 2436: More of Klemperer's Mozart
Mozart Symphonies No. 35 in D, "Haffner", No. 36 in C, "Linz", Overture "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail"
Philharmonia Orchestra
Otto Klemperer, conductor
Pressing: Magic Notes, 3rd
Stampers: YAX 686-2, YAX 685-3
Date first published: 1961
Performance: 10/10
Sound: 7/10
Price range: $33-190, mean $97 on popsike
Comments: Those of you who have been following this blog know that I happen to be a fan of Klemperer's Mozart. This same conductor that gave us more granitic (but monumental) Beethoven and Brahms was also capable of giving us energetic performances of Mozart. This album is a prime example. Here we have two of Mozart's best loved late symphonies, the "Haffner" and the "Linz". No worries -- tempos are swift, and the overall playing of the Philharmonia is excellent. This magic notes 3rd pressing unfortunately does not sound very good and lacks magic to my ears (no pun intended). This is not characteristic of all the magic notes pressings, though, as some can be quite good (my colleague Miles has told me on several occasions that he like the magic notes pressings). Having not heard the blue/silver or semi-circle pressings if this album, I prefer the cleaner and more vibrant sound of EMI's 6 LP box set "Klemperer Conducts Mozart" (SLS 5048). I just checked the stampers on the analogous disc in the box set, and the stampers were YAX 5097-1 and YAX 685-4. On the whole, that boxed set, which can usually be purchased for far less than the price of just one blue/silver pressing, is an economical way to collect these LPs and yields very satisfying sonic rewards.
I actually have this exact LP. I'll have to give it another listen. I recall it being the weaker one of the bunch of these pressings. SLS 5048 seems to be the way to go for these Mozart Symphonies. My experience with these later EMI pressings and Mozart has been good (Beecham Mozart Abduction from a Sergalio has a quite suave and sophisticated sound.)
ReplyDeleteLooks like we agree here! I put on some of the LPs from the SLS box set this morning and was reminded of how good they sound.
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