Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Raymond Leppard, English Chamber Orchestra :: Mozart: Flute Concertos K. 313 & K. 314; Andante K. 315; Rondo K. 373

Sparkling and clear

janus_kreisler_sachs | the Midwest, USA | 06/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've listened to countless recordings of Mozart's concerti for flute and orchestra -- and this CD is my favorite amongst them. Susan Milan's wonderfully warm yet fresh tone stands somewhere between the immaculate purity of Rampal and the excessive fruitiness/cheeziness of Galway. Milan makes even the most brilliant passages sing, with each phrase having its own dynamic arch. Raymond Leppard is a fine Mozart conductor, and the English Chamber Orchestra play with spirit and a radiant transparency (compare this to the stodgy thickness of the Berlin Philharmonic under Abbado in Pahud's EMI recording!). Tempi are delightfully brisk in the outer movements (the rondo of the D major concerto really sparkles!), though the middle movements of both concerti are a tad bit on the slow side. This CD also contains the lovely Andante in C for flute and orchestra K. 315, a beautiful and heartfelt work (Mozart at his lyrical best), and a Rondo in C K. 373 originally composed for violin and orchestra. This recording of K. 373 is actually in the right key, unlike other recordings which use a 19th century arrangement in D major. Chandos's superlative engineering is a great asset of this CD -- it manages to cover a bewilderingly wide range of frequencies, resulting in a recording that somehow manages to be warm, detailed, and brilliant at the same time.Anyone who cares about these works should acquire this CD without delay!"