Philharmonia Orchestra & Michael Collins - W. A. Mozart: Symphonies 34, 35 and 36 (2024)

Although Mozart composed them in his early twenties, the three symphonies presented here can in no way be regarded as early works. Written around the time of his departure from Salzburg for Vienna, these symphonies show that Mozart could deliver attractive, varied, orchestrally colourful and characterful music to suit a variety of public tastes. They also show a young and ambitious composer seeking to forge an impregnable reputation in Europe’s musical capital city. These symphonies truly opened a new chapter in Mozart’s symphonic output, as he demonstrated his absolute mastery of orchestral writing. In addition to the three symphonies as we know them, this recording also includes a Minuet that may have been intended to form part of Symphony no.34.

These three symphonies are performed here by the Philharmonia Orchestra, an ensemble that has performed them with the greatest conductors throughout its almost 80-year history. Here the conductor is the eminent Mozartian Michael Collins, whose recordings, notably that devoted to the Austrian composer’s Clarinet Concerto and Quintet, have earned him the highest praise.

Tracklist
01. Mozart- Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K. 338- I. Allegro vivace
02. Mozart- Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K. 338- II. Andante di molto (più tosto Allegretto)
03. Mozart- Symphony No. 34 in C Major, K. 338- III. Allegro vivace
04. Mozart- Minuet in C Major, K. 409
05. Mozart- Symphony No. 35 in D Major, ‘Haffner’, K. 385- I. Allegro con spirito
06. Mozart- Symphony No. 35 in D Major, ‘Haffner’, K. 385- II. Andante
07. Mozart- Symphony No. 35 in D Major, ‘Haffner’, K. 385- III. Menuetto
08. Mozart- Symphony No. 35 in D Major, ‘Haffner’, K. 385- IV. Presto
09. Mozart- Symphony No. 36 in C Major, ‘Linz’, K. 425- I. Adagio — Allegro spiritoso
10. Mozart- Symphony No. 36 in C Major, ‘Linz’, K. 425- II. Andante
11. Mozart- Symphony No. 36 in C Major, ‘Linz’, K. 425- III. Menuetto
12. Mozart- Symphony No. 36 in C Major, ‘Linz’, K. 425- IV. Presto