This wonderful 1966 recording offers some refreshingly “old-school” Mozart–that is, the kind we used to hear before the emergence of the “authentic” style. Karl Böhm skimps not a bit on the luxuriously plush string textures, imparting a dreamily serene feel to the music. But it’s not all color: the Sinfonia concertantes are among Mozart’s greatest orchestral works, and Böhm, a great Mozartean, emphasizes the music’s innovative construction and dramatic tension. Thomas Brandis and Giusto Cappone partner each other wonderfully in KV 364, imparting a restrained pathos to the Andante’s beautifully intertwining cadenza. The Berlin Philharmonic wind soloists make for a stellar quartet in KV 297b, playing with much spontaneity and exquisite beauty of tone as Böhm masterfully weaves them in and out of the rich orchestral texture. In both works, Deutsche Grammophon’s brightly lit recording allows us to discern the seating arrangement of the soloists, enhancing the antiphonal effect. Whether you’re into pretty Mozart or smart Mozart, this one’s for you.
