Editor's info:
World Music Network worked closely with the independent British classical label, Hyperion Records on this project. This Rough Guide features a concise overview of Mozart's life works. The over-done 'greatest hits' approach is avoided and the listener is given a fresh insight into the composer's myriad styles. The bonus album entitled, Mozart String Quintets, features two complete works and allows the listener to explore the composer's expert string-writing up close and in depth.

In the distinguished and still highly recommended 1980 edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Mozart is rightly described as 'the most universal composer in the history of Western music'. A hugely prolific creative force, he composed in every conceivable musical genre of his time.

He wrote everything from arias of sweet innocence to outrageously bawdy canons; chamber music, sacred music, song, opera, concerto and symphony all number among his accomplishments. He was entirely at home writing for full orchestra, a cappella choir, string ensemble, harpsichord, fortepiano or for vast church organs. Mozart also didn't shy away from challenging instrumental line-ups, such as an aria for bass voice and solo double bass. Whatever he scored for, Mozart managed to achieve unequalled heights of quality and beauty. That fact that he had such an unbelievably productive career in a life that lasted less than thirty-six short years is nothing less than astonishing.

Mozart was born in 1756 in Salzburg. The composer's illustrious career started from a young age; before he had celebrated his tenth birthday, he had performed in Germany, Paris, London, Brussels and The Netherlands. By the time he turned 25, Mozart had already spent ten years touring Europe professionally. On such excursions the young virtuoso would perform tricks to entertain his audience. One such musical feat involved playing the piano with the keyboard entire.......
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Ceniona na świecie wytwórnia fonograficzna World Music Network w swojej nowej serii wydawniczej The Rough Guide To Classical Composers wydaje monograficzne płyty dedykowane wybitnym kompozytorom muzyki klasycznej.
Wśród interpretatorów wiedeńskiego klasyka znajdziemy L'Orefeo Baroque Orchestra pod batutą Michi Gaigga, Cappella Istropolitana pod Barrym Wordsworthem, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, pianistów Larsa Vogta, Howarda Shelleya, Ulricha Eisenlohra, sopranistkę Ruth Ziesak czy oraz zespołu specjalizujące się w muzyce Mozarta: Vienna Mozart Academy i London Mozart Players.
Doboru kompozycji i interpretacji dokonano ze znawstwem, co w przypadku tego wydawcy nie dziwi, podobnie udana selekcja występuje przecież na antologiach folkowych. Od dostępnych na rynku fonograficznym podobnych wydawnictw płytę odróżnia wysoki poziom merytoryczny selekcji. Nagranie, które znalazły się na płytach pochodzą z ostatnich lat i zaliczane są do najwybitniejszych interpretacji przez krytyków muzycznych.

Edycja specjalna zawiera dodatkowo bonusowy album "Salomon Quartet with Simon Whistler: Mozart String Quintets", jednego z najbardziej cenionych zespołów kameralnych specjalizujących się interpretacji muzyki Wolfganga Amadeusza Mozarta.