Mozart: Serenades, K361, K375 & K388; Divertimenti, K166, K186, K213, K226, K227, K240, K252, K253, K270 & K289; Adagios, K410 & K411

COMPOSERS: Mozart
LABELS: Decca London
WORKS: Serenades, K361, K375 & K388; Divertimenti, K166, K186, K213, K226, K227, K240, K252, K253, K270 & K289; Adagios, K410 & K411
PERFORMER: London Wind Soloists/Jack Brymer
CATALOGUE NO: 455 794-2 ADD Reissue

Although the title description is not strictly accurate since, among other things, the divertimenti for three basset-horns, K439b, are not included, this is still an important collection combining the more perfunctory Harmoniemusik with the three great serenades and the two most important Masonic adagios. Among the 15 pieces are three of doubtful origin, the banality of which contrasts vividly with the extraordinary range of invention and expressive power of the two great serenades, K375 and K388, and the wonderful serenade or Gran partita, K361. These recordings were made over 30 years ago and the changes in playing styles which have taken place since are evident throughout. The two most striking aspects are that here individual playing is strongly characterised with a far more liberal use of vibrato, and that tempi are often rather slower than has become the norm in more recent years. This is especially noticeable in the C minor Serenade, in which the final three movements are, for my taste, slightly too indulgent and at times fail to exploit the inherent urgency. The interest in authenticity has also revealed that the composer’s original intentions were often very different from accepted versions: this is particularly the case with K361, known as the ‘serenade for 13 wind instruments’, but which, according to the autograph, is a ‘Gran partita’ for 12 wind instruments and double bass. The score is absolutely clear that a string bass is intended and, in my opinion, the use of a contrabassoon in this performance is not always successful. Tim Payne