Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his last three symphonies in the summer of 1788, and since then they've usually been regarded as a set, even though there's little reason to believe he intended them to be performed together. Unlike Nikolaus Harnoncourt, who came to regard these symphonies as a kind of symphonic oratorio in 12 movements, Richard Tognetti thinks of them as separate pieces that Mozart wrote opportunistically, possibly for a commission that fell through, though beyond that, he lets the music speak for itself. Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra play the Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, the Symphony No. 40 in G minor, and the Symphony No. 41 in C major, "Jupiter" in accepted Classical style, with Tognetti leading as concertmaster, though there's no attempt to unify the performances or to claim any special insights about Mozart's inner state. Listeners may find that these energetic and radiant performances don't need much explanation to enjoy the period style and finesse of the playing, which is brilliant in these ABC Classics recordings. No theory or biographical facts are needed to appreciate the crisp performances or the wonderful sonorities of this exceptional orchestra, and the interpretations work because Tognetti relies on the music's inner logic, rather than on the mythology that has developed around these masterworks. The reproduction is clear and close-up, affording the listener front-row seats to some delightful and genuinely exciting music-making. Highly recommended.
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