Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphonies [2CD]

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John Nelson said:
There is simply no greater joy or challenge for a musician than to play Mozart, be it his operas, his chamber music, his religious works or his symphonies. There is a mixture of simplicity and complexity, earthiness and transcendence, humor and gravity that no other composer surpasses. One immediately feels the joy and the challenge in rehearsal. When Mozart is programmed every musician is fulfilled. One of the main reasons I accepted the leadership of the Ensemble orchestral de Paris was to concentrate for a period in my musical life on Mozart and his contemporaries. During the last several decades this repertoire has gradually moved from the established orchestras to period instrument groups and I have found myself less and less satisfied with the decreased rehearsal time and stylish practice offered by the large orchestras in this music. So it has been a great joy to immerse myself for ten years in Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven with my wonderful colleagues in the Ensemble orchestral de Paris. When a decision was needed for what to do for our last recording and final concert together, there was no question in my mind but to program the pinnacle of the repertoire written for our size ensemble - the last 3 symphonies of Mozart. No matter how well known, no matter how many times we have performed them, these three pose enormous interpretive challenges: how to find a true Mozart style that has been clouded by years of bad practice, how to find proper tempi such as in the first moment of the 40th with its markings of Alla Breve and Molto Allegro, how to make the supreme complexities of the final fugal passage in the 41st sound natural and clean, and above all, to let Mozart's vivacious personality speak freely. Whatever the result, we have experienced great joy in taking on the challenge. As a bonus we offer the charming Symphony No. 31, which we feel is our property since it was written for our city. Enjoy!

John Nelson, biography
John Nelson is one of the most versatile and accomplished conductors on the international scene. He is recognized throughout the world for his interpretations of the great Romantic works, the Baroque repertoire, his vibrant approach to Mozart and Haydn, and his enthusiasm for contemporary music. Born in Costa Rica, he studied at the Julliard School, where he was awarded the Irving Berlin Prize for conducting. He has been music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the Caramoor Music Festival in New York. He was also guest conductor of the Orchestre National de Lyon. From 1998 to 2008, John Nelson was music director of the Ensemble orchestral de Paris. He has conducted in cities all over the world: in the United States with the New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, and Cleveland orchestras, and in Europe with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre national de France and Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. He also performs in Asia. His breakthrough conducting operas in New York in 1972, and subsequently at the Metropolitan Opera in 1974, led to his European debut at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva with Berlioz's Les Troyens and in France with Béatrice et Bénédict. He has subsequently conductedin some of the world's leading opera houses, including the Chicago Lyric Opera, the Opéra Bastille, the Lyon and Rome Operas, and la Monnaie in Brussels. His commitment to the great sacred and choral masterpieces prompted him to found Soli Deo Gloria, an organisation that encourages the promotion of modern sacred music. His list of recordings (on EMI, Virgin Classics, Sony, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, BMG, and Erato) is rich and varied. Among the prestigious awards he has received are a Grammy for Handel's Semele, a Diapason d'Or of the year for Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict, and two Victoires de la Musique Classique with the Ensemble orchestral de Paris for Best Music DVD of 2004 (the Beethoven piano concertos with François-René Duchâble) and Best Ensemble of 2004. John Nelson has been Honorary Music Director of the Ensemble orchestral de Paris since September 2008.

Ensemble orchestral de Pari, biography
The Ensemble orchestral de Paris was founded in 1978 by Marcel Landowski, Roland Bourdin and Jean-Pierre Wallez with the supports of the City of Paris and the Ministry of Culture. More than thirty years later, this group of forty-three musicians corresponding to the so-called 'Mannheim formation' has entered an era of maturity and excellence. With John Nelson as its music director between 1998 and 2008, the Ensemble orchestral de Paris was revealed as a key player on the international music scene. Its triumphant tours and recordings acclaimed around the world by public and critics alike created an impetus that has set the orchestra on the path to new ambitions. Now recognised worldwide as a chamber orchestra of note, it has developed a wide repertoire covering four centuries of music, from the great classics to premieres of new works. Since 1999, the association Crescendo (a group of business and private patrons) has contributed to the expansion of the orchestra, supporting its touring and recording activities and its outreach programmes for young people. Every year, the Ensemble orchestral de Paris gives a season of concerts at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and in Notre-Dame Cathedral. Its operatic activities take place at the Opéra Garnier and Théâtre Musical du Châtelet, where the orchestra regularly participates in major productions.The musicians and soloists of the orchestra present a repertoire of chamber music at the salle Cortot and concerts for youth audiences at the Théâtre 13 and the Cirque d'Hiver-Bouglione. Several times a year, these activities are complemented by tours across France and abroad (recently in Asia and Europe). Further proof of the orchestra's exceptional vitality is provided by the many awards it has won, including the Diapason d'Or, Choc du Monde de la Musique, 10 de Répertoire, and Victoires de la Musique Classique.