Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Concentus Musicus Wien - Mozart: March in D Major K. 335, Serenade in D Major K. 320 (2015) [24/44]

Recorded at the Golden Hall in the Musikverein Vienna in 2012, this is two of the most important works of Mozart’s ‘middle’ period that Harnoncourt has never recorded with a period-instrument orchestra before. Harnoncourt is well known for his unique interpretation of Mozart and this is reflected by the highly flexible playing and phrasing from the orchestra. This album marks the 60th anniversary of the collaboration between Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Concentus Musicus Wien.

The Posthorn Serenade, written in 1779 for the student’s farewell at the end of term at Salzburg University, is one of Mozart’s longest and most varied instrumental works, a plethora of musical characters typical of Mozart’s serenades and a unique blend of elements of dance, solo concerto and symphonic writing. Its rendering here is preceded by a March (KV 335 /1) which, according to Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s musical research, was played in Salzburg in 1779 before the actual performance started.

Mozart’s symphony No. 35, the Haffner Symphony (named after the Salzburg family who commissioned the work in 1782), was originally conceived as a serenade as well. Written in a particularly festive and serene style making best use of the orchestra’s virtuosic possibilities, it’s the shortest of Mozart’s mature symphonies and one of the most popular and effective ones. The new recording marks the first time Nikolaus Harnoncourt revisits the piece after his epoch-making version of 1980 (with Concertgebouw Orkest).

“[Harnoncourt] offers a programme pairing the short, popular “Haffner” Symphony with the “Posthorn-Serenade”, one of his longer showcase pieces…it’s at once joyous and thoughtful, swinging smoothly between graceful string and wind figures and brash horns” (The Independent)

“The varied wind solos from piccolo to trumpet are wittily characterised. But the knockout here is the 'Haffner' Symphony, a totally exuberant account which is cinematic in its focus and intensity, racing to a finale which is wild beyond belief.” (The Observer)

TRACKLIST

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)

01. March No. 1 in D Major, K. 335 (K. 320a)
02. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": I. Adagio maestoso-Allegro con spirito
03. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": II. Menuetto. Allegro-Trio
04. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": III. Concertante. Andante grazioso
05. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": IV. Rondeau. Allegro ma non troppo
06. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": V. Andantino
07. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": VI. Menuetto-Trio I-Trio II
08. Serenade in D Major, K. 320, "Posthorn-Serenade": VII. Finale. Presto
09. Symphony in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner-Sinfonie": I. Allegro con spirito
10. Symphony in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner-Sinfonie": II. Andante
11. Symphony in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner-Sinfonie": III. Menuetto-Trio
12. Symphony in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner-Sinfonie": IV. Presto

PERSONNEL
Concentus Musicus Wien
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Dirigent