The Salzburg Chamber Soloists are claimed in the booklet to have been formed with the intention "to perform orchestral chamber music with the freedom of soloists." It's not clear what this means, exactly; the group of about 18 musicians actually can boast of fairly precise ensemble work. The most unusual aspect of these readings of Mozart's three divertimenti or Salzburg Symphonies (K. 136, 137, and 138) is the phrasing employed by violinist and leader Lavard Skou Larsen. The strings -- actually a fairly large group for ...
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The Salzburg Chamber Soloists are claimed in the booklet to have been formed with the intention "to perform orchestral chamber music with the freedom of soloists." It's not clear what this means, exactly; the group of about 18 musicians actually can boast of fairly precise ensemble work. The most unusual aspect of these readings of Mozart's three divertimenti or Salzburg Symphonies (K. 136, 137, and 138) is the phrasing employed by violinist and leader Lavard Skou Larsen. The strings -- actually a fairly large group for these sprightly little pieces -- attack strongly and carry through each phrase with a rather hard, unyielding edge. Tempos are quick, and the overall effect is sharp rather than graceful. It's either bracing or harsh, depending on your perspective, but there are plenty of other versions of these pieces out there for listeners who don't take to this unorthodox approach. Another distinctive feature of this release is the presence of some comparative rarities. There are two arrangements of...
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