What is your favorite Mozart symphony?

My personal affection is No. 36 "Linz" as well.

However I was curious that Jochum performed No. 33 so many times in his career so I printed out the scores and listened to it with scores. I found that the second movement (andante moderato) is so profound. That stirred my interest to collect more recordings to see different readings of conductors.

Below is a list of my current collection for your reference:

Abendroth / Radio Symphony Orchestra / '56
Bohm / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / '66
Jochum / Bavarian Symphony Orchestra / '56
Jochum / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam / '61
Jochum / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam / '86
Erich Kleiber / West Deutsche Radio Symphony Orchestra / '53
Carlos Kleiber / Vienna Symphony Orchestra / '67
Carlos Kleiber / Bavarian State Orchestra / '96
Mravinsky / Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra / '83
Klemperer / Philharmonic Orchestra / '62
Suitner / Dresden State State Orchestra / '75

Happy Listening!

Otto

Thank Lowrider's suggestion on No. 24. I will look into it.

Also agree with Jetxexpro, the string quintets are lovely with the additional viola to balance the tone dominated by two violins which by Mozart's point of view is too "thin".

Happy Listening!

Otto

Just played Bohm's recording of No.24, I found the wind section in the 2nd movement is very delightful. Thank you, Lowrider.

On the other hand, Symphony No. 25 is too "rush" for me. I am more included to the music with long and cumulative build-up. To certain degree, I concur with Jetrexpro's remarks regarding the development section of Mozart's symphonies. Some development sections of Mozart's symphonies seem imposed. For example, Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 has a development section of 103 measures while Mozart's Symphony No. 36 has a development section of only 19 measures.

Below is the information for Lowrider.

The collector edition was issued in 2006 and used the original-image bit-processing technology mastered by Emil Berliner Studios.

The more recent release of "Karl Bohm: The Symphonies" in 2013 doesn't mention the mastering processes at all.

For Lowrider,

If you like the performances of Bohm on YouTube. The ensemble for those recordings is Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra while the ensemble of 2006's collector edition or 2013's "Karl Bohm: The Symphonies" is Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

The recordings on YouTube are recently released under the title "Karl Bohm: Late Recording" in 2015. It only complies Symphony No 29, 35, 38, 39, 40 and 41.

There is another early release in 2005 "Karl Bohm: Mozart and Strauss" complies Symphony No. 26, 32, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40 and 41. The ensembles are Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (No. 34, 36 and 38) and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam (all others).

I am lucky enough to collect them all.

Happy Listening.

Otto

To Lowrider,

The only recording I have for fair comparison would be the Requiem KV. 626 by Bohm recorded in 1971. The first one was released in 1983 as single CD and the second one was released earlier this year under the collection titled "Karl Bohm: Late Recording". By my personal perception, the newly release represents more live "music hall" experience which some claim it's fake.

Again it depends on your personal taste. Tone comes first as Furtwangler once commended on the topic of performance. For my daughter (a conservatory student)Bosendorfer piano sounds dull but for me Steinway piano sounds bright.

Hope it helps.