No, this is not an "original instrument" presentation, but Mackerras takes a loving view of his composer and most listeners will be quite satisfied with the results. Granted that other recordings might offer more "period style" here or more heaven-moving renditions there. However, this boxed set of 10 CDs has replaced in my collection all the miscellaneous recordings I have been lining up on the Mozart shelf; and (as Ko-Ko sings) "They never will be missed" as long as this Telarc set is there to be played.

The only negative feature is that the time limitations of the CD necessitate that Symphonies No. 8 and 20 begin on one disc and end on the other. But having them in the correct order was quite a challenge for the producers and much to be appreciated.


Great sound, great music-making - Mackerras best Mozart   May 19, 2003
 18 out of 18 found this review helpful

Mackerras has made some pretty amazing recordings these last years, from Beethoven's 9th to Mahler's 5th. This set has Mackerras conducting the Prague Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble that has definetely studied Mozart and studied him well. Most if not all the symphonies are first class but I have to point out the opening of the 25th and the finale of the 40th. I really rediscovered these pieces after hearing to these great recordings. The sound perfect as always with Telarc recordings. A must for all Mozart fans and a great alternative to the celebrated Hogwood set on L'Oiseau Lyre (Decca).


I agree with   February 18, 2006
 15 out of 29 found this review helpful

a music fans comment, Mackerras is good, BUT...
So I do not expect anyone to give my comment a "YES Paul's review was most helpful"
:-))
Mackerras is the most popular as far as modern voting goes. Popular votes never influence my decision in critiquing.
My fav in the complete is Bohm/Berlin
In the last 6 syms, it is Walter/Columbia/Sony which may be the finest I've heard, which is sadly Out of print. The Walter/Columbia is a bigger orch sound, which obviously is against Mozart's initial idea of size of orch. But the Columbia plays so tight/fliud/details rendered with powerful depth of emotions, that it is excusable the "big-band" sound.
Bohm's Berlin is slightly scaled down in size, yet at times does not match the Columbia's tightness/percision.
But I do find Bohm and Walter to be very close so that I can't decide which I prefer more.
IOW I love them both equally, and prefer both over Mackerras well recorded set. Seems to me Mackerras' Prague Chamber is like a "youth orch", not going into the details as does the more experienced Columbia and Berlin. Also to consider is the fact of the instrument quality, which the Prague is not in the same class as the Columbia and Berlin. In Mozart the string section's instruments can make all the difference. AS well as winds. I'm sure the Prague is a smaller budget orch and cannot afford the finer instruments alloted to the 2 bigger orchestras. .
Makerras' orch play too fast at times, lacks depths in the nuances that I hear in Walter and Bohm, and the recorded sound is abit harsh/grainy.
Overall the Mackerras is my 3rd choice in Mozart. But still as good as Bohm is, I felt no need to keep the Mackerras.
Read my review of the Bohm/Berlin complete set.








Good, but . . .   July 8, 2004
 11 out of 33 found this review helpful

I bought this item from Amazon and I am not sorry that I did. Actually it is good, very good, but I find something that I do not like: Why does this Sir McKerras play all the minuets so fast? Why does he such excessive repeating? The minuets in Haydn are all happy and full of joy, but in Mozart each one is quite different from another: some are happy, some are sad, some are childish, some are majestic, etc. Some of those Minuets seem to be written in order to be danced by Kings and so forth. Is Sir McKerras such an egalitarian that he does not accept such differences? Too bad Herr Josef Krips is dead, he was the real Mozartean.


Mozart in a box   June 12, 2000
 10 out of 24 found this review helpful

Here it is! If you've been looking for the essence of Wolfgang Amadeus in a single package look no further. Ten discs of digital recording that will help you relive the life of the greatest composer of all time. Don't leave the checkout without it.