Edward Greenfield gave a warm welcome to Anne-Sophie Mutter's LP coupling of the two D major Concertos. They have splendid assurance and polish, and there is a firm rhythmic grip without any hint of that overdriven quality that can sometimes affect this conductor. In the CD format there is a greater sense of inner clarity and definition than in the LP, which itself is pretty impressive. In the small but growing discography of Mozart concertos on CD, this EMI newcomer ranks high.
There is no alternative version of K211 on CD and the only alternative in the case of K218 is the new Nimbus account from Oscar Shumsky which appears simultaneously in both CD and LP formats. Only one other LP couples K218 and 219 together (Heifetz and Sargent on RCA), most LP versions following the example of Itzhak Perlman and James Levine in coupling the A major, K219 with the G major, K216. Oscar Shumsky's performances with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra have the advantage of being unaffected, natural and full of musical character. He seems to have an excellent rapport with Yan Pascal Tortelier who secures very alive and thoroughly musical playing from the orchestra. They do not produce so sumptuous or so beautiful a sound as do the VPO for Levine on the DG rival of K219 or the Philharmonia for Muti, and there could be a more refined piano tone. The recordings is truthfully balanced with the violin sounding life-size as opposed to Perlman who is larger than life, though there is at times a halo of unwanted reverberation around the soloist. However, this apart, the recording is well-focused and the lively acoustic of Edinburgh's Queen's Hall is well used.Shumsky's playing is refreshingly old-fashioned and there is an occasional scoop, and at one point in the second movement of K218 less than impeccable intonation. But it conveys the feeling of a real performance and the players, too, convey pleasure in what they are doing and enthusiasm in the outer movements. This is n ot the last word in polish but it is recommendable for all that in both LP and CD formats.RL