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Mozart: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 10 - Fischer

Mozart: Complete Symphonies, Vol. 10 - Fischer

Dacapo Records  6.220545

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Mozart: Symphonies 35 "Haffner" & 38 "Prague"

Danish National Chamber Orchestra
Adam Fischer


This is the tenth volume in the Dacapo's acclaimed series of the complete symphonies by W.A. Mozart, recorded by the Danish National Chamber Orchestra and their renowned Austro-Hungarian chief conductor Adam Fischer. We have now reached some of Mozart's mature and most treasured symphonies nicknamed Haffner and Prague, composed in the composer's last decade alive, the 1780s.

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Review by Adrian Quanjer - August 14, 2013

Adam Fisher and The Danish National Chamber Orchestra are now at volume 10 of what seems to become a complete Mozart symphony cycle. I have several of these volumes; the better known symphonies start at volume 9 (No’s 31, 33 and 34). Together with the ones in vol. 10 they can be seen as possible alternatives for the Mozart symphonies recorded by The Scottish Chamber Orchestra under the baton of the late Charles Mackerras, about which many were enthusiastic, but some were questioning the Linn recording technique.

Adam Fisher should not to be mixed up with his brother, Ivan, the widely acknowledged and gifted conductor who does miracles with his Budapest Festival Orchestra (Brahms 1, Tchaikovsky and Mahler 4, to give but a few examples). Adam is more of an opera and Haydn/Mozart specialist. With his Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra he has recorded, to great acclaim, all of the Haydn Symphonies. In 1998 he became Principle Conductor of The Danish National Chamber Orchestra, with which he is successfully recording all of Mozart’s operas.

Volume 6, with a series of early symphonies, has been wholeheartedly welcomed by Geohominid and elsewhere, notwithstanding the fact that some critics do not like his fast tempi. Historically informed experts, however, point out that in Mozart’s time (most) music was not ‘classical’ in the sense as we see it now. It was first and foremost ‘entertainment’. Audiences liked excitement, as they still do in our time.

It is also true that many of the smaller orchestras have become virtuoso ensembles and are more and more able to live up to the speed without letting the music drown in a cacophony of incoherent noises. So … gone are the days of slow and often sluggish Mozart symphonies played by large orchestras.

And it is true, too, that a good conductor can make lesser renowned orchestras play ‘beyond’ themselves.

In comparing this 10th installment with the same symphonies played by the ‘Scots’, speed is not so much the issue. Mackerras lets his musicians play with meticulously measured tempi, with similar timings as Fischer’s in the outer movements and a slightly slower pace in the ‘andantes’. Mackerras plays Mozart as many have come to like it, without being ‘old fashioned’; Fischer’s band, on the other hand, play with more ‘gusto’ and with markedly present kettle drums.

A difficult choice? Yes and no (as always, so it seems). If I compare Symphony 38 of both, than Fischer's is my clear favourite, whereby the Dacapo sound is to be preferred, too. In The Haffner, it is less clear. Mackerras’ lines are more fluid and the andante is simply beautiful. But, alas, the recording quality does not always play in Mackerras’ favour. Fischer is somewhat mannered in the andante, but his menuet is fine and the following presto is absolutely thrilling. Full of excitement and, in fact, hugely entertaining!

With this latest issue Dacapo’s Mozart set seems to be coming of age and Adam Fischer has put his Mozart firmly on the Danish and, indeed, mine and presumably many others’ map. I am eagerly looking forward to the remaining volumes.

In terms of sound Dacapo is good without being outstanding. The booklet does not state DSD (nor PCM for that matter), and if it does not say so, it probably isn’t.

Copyright © 2013 Adrian Quanjer and HRAudio.net

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