Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35, 40 & 41 (Essential Classics)
These exceptional Mozart performances perfectly combine classical poise with just the right touch of sentiment. In the 1960s, when these recordings were first released, their comparative lack of emotional indulgence prompted Szell to remark, "I cannot pour chocolate sauce on asparagus." Now, when the "authentic instrument" movement has given us Mozart performances that seem as though they were conducted by robots, these seem to be just the ticket. It's not just that the playing is exceptional, which of course it is, but rather that there's also the natural clarity of each strand in the musical texture. Check out, for example, the finale of the "Haffner" symphony, which is performed as quick as possible--as Mozart demands--but with such elegance, too. At a budget price, this disc is an incredible bargain.--David Hurwitz