These are excellent performances of early Mozart: vibrant, energetic, elegantly conducted, and immaculately played. Adam Fischer manages to have the best of both worlds: a period-influenced approach to performance practice combined with the attractive timbres of modern instruments. Best of all, there’s no continuo harpsichord to ruin Mozart’s finely-judged instrumental colors–the flutes in the slow movement of Symphony No. 12, or the regal pomp of trumpets and drums in the Symphony in C. Fischer’s own notes to the symphonies are silly, but that doesn’t matter. Today all artists are expected to speak to their audiences, whether in person or in print, often with predictably embarrassing results. Never mind; if you’re looking for some top-notch early Mozart symphonies in terrific sound, make this series a priority.
