Notes and Editorial Reviews
For the first time, Sony BMG gathers under one roof all the Mozart studio recordings George Szell made with the Cleveland Orchestra for Columbia Masterworks. The material is packaged in facsimiles of the original LP jackets, and was completely remastered from scratch. Collectors familiar with previous CD editions will notice sonic improvement, particularly regarding the absence of artificial reverberation. There is more tape hiss, yet more high-end information, presence, and definition all around. More importantly, the interpretations not only stand the test of time, but also provide a welcome tonic (indeed, an antidote) to numerous "historically informed" performances that confuse leanness and transparency with tonal rawness and
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metronomic facelessness. Classical poise, clear textures, elegantly structured phrasing, and no more sentiment than necessary characterized Szell's standard-setting approach to this repertoire, as well as the extraordinary degree to which the sharply honed Clevelanders honored their music director's wishes.
Note, for example, how Szell's breathtakingly fast tempo for the "Haffner" Symphony's finale never seems even slightly rushed. Then there's the uncanny dovetailing concertmaster Rafael Drurian and violist Abraham Skernick achieve throughout the Sinfonia concertante, the high-alert podium support framing Leon Fleisher's imaginative romp through K. 503's outer movements, and the shapely unanimity that distinguishes rapid unison string passages, such as in the Marriage of Figaro Overture.
As a bonus, Sony includes Szell's 1955 mono recordings of the last three symphonies (all new to CD). Both the E-flat (K. 543) and G minor (K. 550) generally seem more animated and spontaneous next to their better-known stereo remakes. But the stereo "Jupiter" (K. 551) benefits from a more flowing, forward moving slow movement, warmer, more varied string tone (compare both Menuets and hear for yourself), and a sophisticatedly aligned, powerfully inflected finale that few conductors have equaled on disc.
Although Szell played down his keyboard prowess in later years, his 1946 quartets (with members of the Budapest String Quartet) and 1967 sonata collaborations with Drurian reveal all the skill and authority of a seasoned, full-time pianist. The collection's lone non-Szell disc features his assistant Louis Lane presiding over a marvelous D major Divertimento K. 334, the "Lacrimosa" from the Requiem led by Robert Shaw, and a rather inconsequential 1946 recording of Erich Leinsdorf conducting the C major Minuet K. 409. It goes without saying that anyone interested in what must be the definitive Szell/Mozart edition should take Sony's "limited edition" tag seriously and act fast.
--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Symphony no 28 in C major, K 200 (189k) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Written: 1774
2.
Le nozze di Figaro, K 492: Overture by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
3.
Symphony no 33 in B flat major, K 319 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1779; Salzburg, Austria
4.
Symphony no 35 in D major, K 385 "Haffner" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1782; Vienna, Austria
5.
Symphony no 40 in G minor, K 550 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1788; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 1955
Notes: Mono recording.
6.
Der Schauspieldirektor, K 486: Overture by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
7.
Divertimento for Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, 4 Horns and Strings no 2 in D major, K 131 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra members,
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1772; Salzburg, Austria
8.
Symphony no 41 in C major, K 551 "Jupiter" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1788; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 1955
Notes: Mono recording.
9.
Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola in E flat major, K 364 (320d) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Abraham Skernick (Viola),
Rafael Druian (Violin)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra members,
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1779; Salzburg, Austria
10.
Exsultate jubilate, K 165 (158a) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Judith Raskin (Soprano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1773; Milan, Italy
11.
Symphony no 39 in E flat major, K 543 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1788; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 1947
Notes: Mono recording.
12.
Serenade no 13 in G major, K 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1787; Vienna, Austria
13.
Serenade no 9 in D major, K 320 "Posthorn" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Bernard Adelstein (Posthorn)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1779; Salzburg, Austria
14.
Divertimento for 2 Horns and Strings no 17 in D major, K 334 (320b) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
Louis Lane
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1779-1780; Salzburg, Austria
15.
Requiem in D minor, K 626: Lacrymosa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
Robert Shaw
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra,
Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
Period: Classical
Written: 1791; Vienna, Austria
16.
Minuet in C major, K 409 (383f) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor:
Erich Leinsdorf
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1782; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 1946
Notes: Mono recording.
17.
Concerto for Clarinet in A major, K 622 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Robert Marcellus (Clarinet)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1791; Vienna, Austria
18.
Concerto for Piano no 25 in C major, K 503 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Leon Fleisher (Piano)
Conductor:
George Szell
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cleveland Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
19.
Sonata for Violin and Piano in F major, K 376 (374d) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
George Szell (Piano),
Rafael Druian (Violin)
Period: Classical
Written: 1781; Vienna, Austria
20.
Sonata for Violin and Piano in G major, K 301 (293a) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
George Szell (Piano),
Rafael Druian (Violin)
Period: Classical
Written: 1778; Mannheim, Germany
21.
Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor, K 304 (300c) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
George Szell (Piano),
Rafael Druian (Violin)
Period: Classical
Written: 1778; Paris, France
22.
Sonata for Violin and Piano in C major, K 296 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
George Szell (Piano),
Rafael Druian (Violin)
Period: Classical
Written: 1778; Mannheim, Germany
23.
Quartet for Piano and Strings no 1 in G minor, K 478 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Boris Kroyt (Viola),
Joseph Roisman (Violin),
Mischa Schneider (Cello),
George Szell (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Budapest String Quartet members
Period: Classical
Written: 1785; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 1946
Notes: Mono recording.
24.
Quartet for Piano and Strings no 2 in E flat major, K 493 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Mischa Schneider (Cello),
Joseph Roisman (Violin),
Boris Kroyt (Viola),
George Szell (Piano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Budapest String Quartet members
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 1946
Notes: Mono recording.
Sound Samples
III. Menuetto. Allegretto -Trio
Overture to the Marriage of Figaro, K. 492
IV. Finale. Allegro assai
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Allegro assai
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