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| L'Oiseau-Lyre Florilegium digital (Full price) (LP) 411 936-1OH (Cassette) 411 936-4OH (CD) 411 936-2OH. |
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This was the first of Mozart's full-length serenades and he wrote it in August 1773 for the wedding of the Salzburg Military Councillor's son; it is sometimes called the "Andretter Musik" after his name. The whole score is remarkably assured and it makes delightful summer listening when played with such poise and style as here. I do not recall any previous recording. As in the later full-length serenades, a violin concerto is embedded in the succession of movements and it is played with unassertive charm by Jaap Schroder. These movements are not consecutive as you might expect; they consist of the second and third (an Andante and a strage little Allegro) and a trio from a minuet much later on. This last is a sadly beautiful little piece in the minor. Both Andantes are of fine quality. All through there is unexpected emphasis on horns, trumpets and drums, and some of the scoring is surprisingly adventurous. In truth this serenade turned out to be more interesting than I had expected, and with a quality of sound to match the excellent playing this is a record that one can recommend without qualification.
RF