Mozart Violin Concerto—No. 3 in G major, K216. Violin Concerto—No. 5 in A major, K219. Anne-Sophie Mutter (vn) Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan.

DG (Full price) (CD) 415 323-2GH. From 2531 049 (9/78).

Selected comparison

Perlman, VPO, Levine (9/83) 410 020-2GH

It is easy to forget, as you listen, that this young soloist recorded these concertos seven years ago. Her smooth silky line in lyrical tunes is as astonishing as her assured brilliance in the quick bits. The G major is, perhaps, even more assured than the A major. In the G major she finds just the right tempo in the central Adagio (and not all do), and I would only question the portentous length of the first movement cadenza, though I suppose if one can play like this it is very hard to resist the temptation to do so.

The accompaniment, needless to say, is impeccable and the seven-year-old recording quality beyond praise. Perhaps it is churlish to add that the touch of maturity makes the DG Perlman/Levine CD even more a delight, especially in the A major, but I at least would be very well content with either version.
RF