Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Hans Vonk :: Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor; Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major

Excellent Mozart and Beethoven

Brian W. Bough | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 12/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a problem in reviewing any disc consisting of WA Mozart's Symphony No 40 and L v Beethoven's Symphony No 7: there are a million recordings of both and virtually all of them are at least "pretty good."



Here I highly recommend both recordings. If you are either just getting started into classical music, are still expanding your collection, or you are a fan of Hans Vonk and the St. Louis Symphony, I would say that you are looking at a great disc to obtain.



There is nothing shocking in either recording. They are both what we expect to hear when either piece is played. What sets this disc apart is the balance and clarity in Maestro Vonk's interpretations and how well the engineering captures the concerts (these are taken from live concerts). Beyond this, both pieces showcase St. Louis' stellar strings. They are truly, heavenly perfection.



To summarize, if you already have recordings of these works, you may wish to give this disc a pass. Sure, it is a great disc, but there is a point beyond which it is difficult to play either work significantly better than anyone else. On the other hand, if you are shopping for these pieces - and why else would you be here? - you will not be disappointed by this disc.

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