I don't think so. There is nothing marginal about Mozart.
Tyler Cowen opines on Mozart here. He includes, as a category, the "most overrated Mozart." In this our celebration of Mozart's 250th whatever, what, pray tell, does the good doctor feel is the most overrated of the Mozartian ouevre?
Most overrated Mozart: The Violin concerti and then the Requiem. Contrary to cliche, Suessmayr ruined the ending. The Clarinet Concerto was once wonderful, but it has been overexposed in muzak, Nordstrom, and overpriced faux Italian restaurants.
The violin concerti? The Clarinet Concerto? Now, gentle readers, do you see why I am not an ardent defender of the death penalty? In fact, I would contribute to Tyler Cowen's appeal myself: he is, after all, entitled to his opinion...however misleading.
It is important that you get this.
If Mozart's Clarinet Concerto was "once wonderful," dear readers, it is wonderful still. That means now. You may obtain nice versions of it here, together with his oboe and bassoon concertos and here, together with his horn concertos number 1 and 4.
By this time you are no doubt asking whether it is at all possible for Tyler Cowen to redeem himself. The delightful (we speak of Mozart, after all) answer is that not only is it possible, but done:
Most underrated Mozart: The violin and piano sonatas, and the short, comic vocal pieces. Try also the Piano and Wind Quintet, K. 452, the Clarinet Trio, K. 498, the Piano Quartets (with George Szell as pianist), and the Clarinet Quintet, K. 581.
Although the idea of "underrated Mozart" strikes me as being somewhat in the same vein as "square circle" or "chocolate I don't like," I have to agree with Cowen's suggestions here. All of them. Go forth and listen.
Except...except that...look, let's have it out: someone is going to ask, "Craig? Aren't you an American? Didn't you once own a vinyl record of Benny Goodman playing some of the Mozart clarinet pieces, to include that very concerto over which you and Tyler Cowen disagree?"
I did indeed, and you can obtain a CD of Goodman's take on the Clarinet Concerto and the Clarinet Quintet here.
Posted by Craig Ceely at January 29, 2006 07:49 PMI hear you bother but I have to admit, despite my insane love of the violin and handsome violinists, Mozart's violin concertoes do not do it for me as much as the Operas or the piano concertoes or pretty much everything else he wrote, as an adult. This may be a function of the recordings I have.
Coincidentally, this weekend is the Mozart festival at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra where the ever so terribly handome First Violinist will be playing solo for a Mozart violin concerto (cant remember which). I might be changing my mind on this....
Posted by: BridgetB at January 30, 2006 10:46 AM