Mozart for those who hate Mozart

Mozart's musical output has been a permanent interest and almost every musician tried to approach some of his compositions during their careers. Unfortunately the recorded legacy shows clearly that Mozart's music is a very difficult thing to pull through as far as meaningful interpretation is concerned. The luxurious melodic content and the buoyancy of his spirit, obvious even in the slow movements made a good part of musicians play him, in Horowitz's words, "like Chopin". There are nonetheless achievements that make his genius manifest in full splendor. I gathered here some of them as they have in common two things: they are definitive versions and they are perls among Mozart's compositions. Even if you don't like Mozart you'll have to admit the beauty, the complexity of ideas and sentiments, the depth of his psychological insight all in perfect musical forms. If these guys don't convince you of Mozart's genius, nobody will.

1. Don Giovanni, K 527 - Gottlob Frick, Luigi Alva, Graziella Sciutti, Piero Cappuccilli, Joan Sutherland, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wachter, Heinrich Schmidt, Giuseppe Taddei / Carlo Maria Giulini

The greatest recording of the greatest of operas.

2. Le Nozze di Figaro, K 492 - Fiorenza Cossotto, Gillian Spencer, Anna Moffo, Elisabetta Fusco, Piero Cappuccilli, Ivo Vinco, Renato Ercolani, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dora Gatta, Diana Gillingham, Eberhard Wachter, Heinrich Schmidt, Giuseppe Taddei / Carlo Maria Giulini

Another definitive recording from Giulini.

3. Cosi fan Tutte, K 588 - Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Hanny Steffek, Heinrich Schmidt, Alfredo Kraus, Giuseppe Taddei, Walter Berry / Karl Bohm

Impecable cast, masterful conductor, indeed a great recording of the century.

4. Die Zauberflöte, K 620 - Gottlob Frick, Gundula Janowitz, Josephine Veasey, Gerhard Unger, Lucia Popp, Marga Hoffgen, Ruth-Margaret Putz, Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Franz Crass, Walter Berry, Nicolai Gedda, Agnes Giebel / Otto Klemperer

You can't get better than this. The cast is stellar.

5. Symphonies 35-41 - Berliner Philharmoniker, Karl Bohm

The authority of the supreme Mozartian of the 20th century. Read an extended review here.

6. Requiem - with William Warfield, Ingrid Seefried, Jennie Tourel, Leopold Simoneau / Bruno Walter

From the guy who reinvented Mozart, sorrow and silent dispair at heaven's doors.

7. Paino Concerto No. 27, B flat major, K 595, Emil Gilels/Karl Bohm

Not from a renowned Mozartian yet perfectly round in shape and emotion.

8. Violin Concertos - Arthur Grumiaux/ Sir Colin Davis/ Raymond Leppard

Impecable style, phrasing and expression. One of the greatest recordings with Mozart's music.

9. Piano Conerto No. 21, C Major, K. 467 - Dinu Lipatti / Herbert von Karajan

A glimpse into what started as a genuine piano genius. Karajan provides one of the best supports on disc.