Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Willi Boskovsky, Sandor Végh :: Mozart: Adagios

Good - somewhat awkward

finchbeak | New England | 08/09/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD includes some of Mozart's most sublime work. Like most compilations, each piece on the CD exists out of context, which sometimes feels awkward. Also, some of the performances are not up-to-snuff. In particular, the flute and harp concerto (K.299) is clunky and strangely juxtiposed with an outstanding performance of the K.622 clarinet concerto. I was also a bit disappointed with the metronomic performance of the K.361 adagio, which is among my favorite pieces of music. This CD is outstanding as background music - it's simply lovely, but it's not particularly good listening for the serious Mozart fan."

Music to tame the cacophonous beast

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 01/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though this is not a CD set to "seriously listen to Mozart", it is perfect to put on while doing anything from housework to sitting around watching the grass grow. With one glorious melody after another, one is flooded with its beauty; there are few melodies that can top track # 2, the Andante from Piano Concerto 21, the "Elvira Madigan" theme, except for many of the other twentyone excerpts that for the most part, are well performed, with some that are exceptional.Vladimir Ashkenzy is the pianist in four pieces, and is wonderful in all of them, as is clarinetist Gervase de Peyer in the K622 concerto and the excepts from Horn Concertos # 2 and # 3, with Barry Tuckwell as soloist.
The Concerto for Flute and Harp K299 might sound a little thin to some, but this is perhaps because of the antique instrumentation. The Academy of Ancient Music, under the baton of Christopher Hogwood, have been pioneers in recording with period instruments.
I'm particularly fond of Mozart's solo piano pieces, and three selections are included, played by award-winning Hungarian pianist/conductor Andras Schiff.The packaging for these 2 discs is minimal, but the music is a nice bargain. You get miles of Mozart (playing time for Disc One is 74'25, Disc Two 71'30), with many great artists performing these soft and exquisite pieces; it makes me think of a box of assorted musical truffles, a delicacy for the ears, and a balm for the soul in the noisy world most of us live in."

Mozart's Adagios By Outstanding Musicians and Conductors

Classicalfan | Reston, VA USA | 11/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2-CD reasonably priced compilation has a number of the greatest adagios Mozart composed, performed by some of the greatest conductors and musicians in the world. Mozart was such a prolific composer of incredibly beautiful music in his short 35 years that one can easily imagine a second 2-CD set of his adagios in this series. The quality of the performances and the sound quality of the recordings on both CDs are outstanding.



The selections of adagios are a representative sampling of many of Mozart's most well-known and greatest compositions. Although the selections come from a large variety of works, they flow smoothly from one to the other. The adagios from the piano concertos performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy, the other piano selections, performed by Andras Schiff, the violin adagio performed by Joshua Bell, and the adagio from the Clarinet Concerto performed by Gervase de Peyer, are absolute musical heaven. Then again, all of the selections are outstanding.



This is wonderful music to listen to either casually or seriously, either while doing something else, or while focusing only on the music and its beauty. If you are looking for other excellent CD compilations of Mozart adagios in addition to this one, I also highly recommend "Mozart for Relaxation" on RCA, and "Mozart for Meditation," on Naxos."