Although Carl Stamitz's reputation as a composer rests principally on his orchestral music, there are, surprisingly, no recordings of the composer's symphonies in the current catalogue. Thus, this excellently played sample of Stamitz's symphonic output is especially welcome.
Besides showing Stamitz's flair for melody and effective use of contrast, the London Mozart Players are responsive to the touches of genuine originality in these pieces. Try the first movement of the C major Symphony, Op. 13 No. 5, where the slow introduction ingeniously returns as a coda, or the textural variety in the G major Symphony, Op. 13 No. 4, where flutes replace oboes in the outer movements, while the second movement, in which the LMP elegantly convey the music's spaciousness, is scored for strings and continuo alone. Bamert's firm, sympathetic direction is also evident in the F major Symphony, Op. 24 No. 3, where the second and third movements are particularly effective for the subtlety with which the LMP defuse the slow movement's dramatic intensity, with delightfully buoyant playing in the work's radiantly cheerful finale. The programmatic symphony, La chasse is the highlight of the disc. In this remarkable work, the declamatory character of the slow introduction gives way to operatic brilliance in the subsequent Allegro, and the slow movement's graceful stateliness culminates in a vividly descriptive portrayal of the hunt in the finale. These stylish performances make a strong case for a comprehensive recorded survey of this repertoire. R1 '9505045'