Columbia SAX 5252: Klemperer's Later Mozart and Handel
Klemperer conducts Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
New Philharmonia & Philharmonia Orchestras
Otto Klemperer, conductor
Pressing: UK, ER1, semi-circle first
Date first published: 1966-67
Matrix numbers: YAX 1338, YAX 1339
Performance: 8/10
Sound: 9/10 for Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Concerto Grosso, 7/10 for Symphony No. 25
Price range: $26-73 (mean $42) on popsike.com
Comments: This is relatively late Klemperer on UK Columbia. The reason to get this album is for the Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Handel's Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 4. The recorded sound is far better on these works than on the Mozart G minor symphony, with positive marks to be given for clarity, dynamics, hall acoustic, and soundstage width. I found the tone of the strings to be very pleasing and natural. With regards to the G minor symphony, I'm pretty sure that this is a rehash of the performance on SAX 2278. I did a side by side comparison, and yes, they sound identical. That would also explain the difference in sound quality between the first two pieces and this one.
Trick release (no longer have).
ReplyDeleteMozart 25 + Handel were initially 1957 LP's (latter with the earlier EKN - as 33C1053, then SBO2751 stereo in '58).
Early Blumlein stereo miking in those two...
As the 6LP Mozart box shows EKN as (p) 1966 presumably the earlier taping never got an LP reissue??
Many thanks for the clarification!! That would explain it. It tricked me for sure ... I even thought that the Handel was recorded at the same time as EKN. Looks like the EKN was the only "new" work released on that record!
Deletegood to know that this version of the G minor sympathy is not a good sounding one. I really want that symphony and don't have a great one of my collection. I think I have Neville Marriner possibly.
ReplyDeleteThe Neville Marriner is my favorite. That is on Argo and should be easily obtainable for not much dough.
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