Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergiu Celibidache :: CELIBIDACHE / Münchner Philharmoniker - Mozart: Symphony No. 40 / Haydn: "Oxford" Symphony

Wonderful in a very surprising way

David Fox | Westlake Village, CA USA | 08/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked up this CD as part of the first Celibidache box released by EMI. While I have been quite won over by Celi's EMI Bruckner recordings (my favorite classical CD aquisitions of 2000 by a wide margin), I wasn't quite sure what to expect of Celi/Mozart. Also, I don't necessarily consider late-Mozart symphonies to be great personality vehicles for conductors. In my mind, they are so well-constructed that a conductor either does his job, or fails miserably. Somebody once said that all happy families are alike, while all unhappy families are miserable in their own unique way. So go my sentiments on Mozart symphony conducting. I own several stellar recordings of these symphonies, and several not-so-stellar. While my favorite recordings (Klemperer, Walter, Szell, DG Bernstein) are not exactly alike, none are radically different in conception from each other. I must admit I initially queued up the Celi recording out of morbid curiousity.Well....so much for my priors. The tempi are not especially broad, though not exactly HIP. What stands out, as with the Bruckner recordings, is the palpable concentration and engagement of each orchestra player, the impeccable balance, and the overall clarity. Mozart's late symphonies contain such multi-layered yet inextractable elements of sheer compositional perfection that they leave the conductor with a dilemma. How does he create a balance between attempting to expose each layer and facet, without undermining the sheer beauty, flow, and musicality of these pieces? If a conductor slows down and/or becomes too analytical in an attempt to "dissect" these pieces, they become leaden. If a conductor wisks along as if these pieces are souped-up Diverimenti, they become treacle. Somehow, Celi manages to achieve the best of both worlds. Never have I heard each part so clearly, yet with such impeccable overall balance. And never before have I felt a greater sense of musical engagement in these pieces. I'd say this recording is required listening for anyone who loves these works. It also functions as an effective counterargument to the pervasive Celi stereotype. It also reminds me what the potential rewards are to challenging preconceptions, rather than relying too much on reviews and/or prior experiences."

BIG Disappointment

Dani | LA, USA | 08/12/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Though I *do* love Celibidache very much (and I think his Brahms 2nd Symp w/ Municher is among the best available recordings ever), this CD is of particular disappointment. Specifically Mozart's 40th lacks the real Mozart spirit, and when it comes to conduct one of Mozart's most difficult symphonies, Celibidache fails miserably. Furtwaengler, Erich Kleiber and even Harnoncourt are among the best options for this incredible symphony. Tempo here is incredibly slow, even more than usual, losing the point during the development of the first tempo (as many many conductors), and the genius won't appear again on this recording. So don't throw away your money with this version. Instead, go for the ones I mentioned, but if you HAVE to buy a CD by Celibidache, get any of his Brahms' symphonies (specially the 2nd, that's a *MUST*), or Tchaikovsky's 6th, or Bruckner's 9th. But stay away from this CD. Unfortunately, Celibidache cannot always be great."