EMI Classics
2001
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter"
About This Album
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series combines Thomas Beecham's final "Jupiter" symphony (which had recorded at least twice before) along with Mozart's Clarinet Concerto as played by Jack Brymer and Gwydion Brooke as soloist in the Bassoon Concerto. At the time, these Royal Philharmonic Orchestra musicians were part of an elite group of wind players known popularly as "The Royal Family," and included trumpeter Richard Walton and horn player Dennis Brain.

Beecham was a consummate Mozartian, but not one beholden to concepts of period authenticity. He favored a big boned, romantic approach to Mozart and used the whole of his Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to achieve that end, rather than paring it down to meet an eighteenth-century dimension perceived as acceptable. His readings of Mozart are very flexible in tempo and follow a nearly improvisatory course which may very well reflect the whim of the moment. Still controversial is his choice of tempo in the third movement "Minuetto & Trio" within the "Jupiter" -- at six minutes, it's slower than nearly everyone else is by far. Nevertheless, at the very least these are spirited, original and exceptionally intuitive Mozart performances that have delighted music lovers for generations, reaching an audience far beyond what even Sir Thomas himself might have hoped for when he made them.
Track List

Symphony No. 41 In C Major ("Jupiter"), K. 551
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4.
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K. 622
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Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K. 191 (K. 186e)
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