Mozart’s last three symphonies were composed in a white-hot burst of energy during the summer of 1788. And here’s a recording to match that creative fire. Like the sudden release of a tightly wound spring, Symphony No. 40 explodes into being. Has its first movement ever sounded so menacing, its second so mysterious and longing? Minasi teases with daring tempo changes at crucial dramatic points, the opening flourish to Symphony No. 41 (the “Jupiter”) tentative, questioning, before his orchestra rushes headlong into the main theme, Mozart’s most brilliantly scored music. Performing on modern instruments but with a period sensibility, Ensemble Resonanz’s pin-sharp, responsive playing creates compelling theater in all three symphonies. Essential listening.
- Giuliano Carmignola, Sol Gabetta, Dejan Lazić, Giovanni Antonini & Kammerorchester Basel
- Charles Richard-Hamelin, Les Violons du Roy & Jonathan Cohen
- Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck, B'Rock Orchestra, Dmitry Sinkovsky, La Nuova Musica, David Bates, Magdalena Kožená & Francesca Aspromonte
- Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin & Bernhard Forck
- Chiaroscuro Quartet
- Isabelle Faust & Alexander Melnikov
- Daniel Hope