Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Neville Marriner, Kenneth Sillito :: Mozart: Theatre and Ballet Music - Rarities & Surprises [Box Set]

Mozart, Mostly For Completists

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 01/21/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"To celebrate the 250th birth of Mozart last year, Philips reissued their "Complete Mozart Edition" in space-saving, slim paper boxes instead of those big clunky jewel cases. Most of the sets were simply repackaged, but this one combined two of the previous releases -- "Theatre and Ballet Music" and "Rarities and Surprises" -- into one five disc collection. As my title for this review suggests, much of this material is arguably for completists only. However, there is a lot of enjoyable music, particularly the Divertimenti from the London Sketchbook and the ballet music from "Idomeneo" and "Les Petits Riens." The set's worst moments come, in my opinion, during the choppy, fragmented third disc, which at times feels like the exact opposite of a "Greatest Hits" rock album. It does end amusingly with the whimsical "A Musical Dice Game" -- pour another glass of vino Sir Neville -- but it certainly won't warrant repeated listenings. The other frustrating thing about this set is that timewise it could have easily been squeezed on to four discs, saving us consumers approximately $8. If this was a 4CD set (or you manage to pick it up used) it would be worth 4 stars, but as is and at full price I have to settle for 3, since much of this music is marginally worth it to begin with."