The Complete Mozart Divertimentos Historic First Recorded Edition CD 2 The Divertimento No. 4 is remarkable for its brevity and thematic neutrality. In fact, it is amazing that the work is so attractive, given the prevalence of chugging accompaniment sections in which no melody at all appears above the garrulous succession of harmonies. The boisterous extension of the final cadence gives a suitable ending to one of Mozart’s most high-spirited works. Starting in the late 1970s the authenticity of the Divertimento No. 16, long seen as the last of the set of six banquet sextets, has been sharply challenged. As the present recording of K. 289 was made before these claims began, it has been included here and allows the listener to make a personal judgment on its status. The Divertimento No. 7 is one of the most immediately ingratiating pieces of the entire series. It is the first of the divertimenti for strings with two horns. Apart from the general role of the horns, which is to support the harmonic and rhythmic texture, their most characteristic writing in Mozart consists of the pedal tones–long notes held through changes of harmony, producing both beauty of sonority and harmonic stability. The grace of the previously heard march concludes the work with appropriate ceremony. © 2002 Robert Levin Artists: Stephen Taylor, oboe Randall Ellis, oboe A. Robert Johnson, horn Virginia Benz, horn David Jolley, horn Leonard Hindell, bassoon Donald MacCourt, bassoon Richard Vrotney, bassoon Felix Galimir, violin John Graham, viola Timothy Eddy, 'cello Alvin Brehm, bass Track List: Divertimento No. 4 in B-flat K. 186/159b for 10 winds 1. Allegro assai 2. Menuetto 3. Andante 4. Adagio 5. Allegro Divertimento No. 16 in E-flat, K. 289/271g for six winds 6. Adagio; Allegro 7. Menuetto 8. Adagio 9. Finale March, K. 290/167AB & 10. March Divertimento No. 7 in D, K 205/167A for strings & horns 11. Largo—Allegro 12. Menuetto I 13. Adagio 14. Menuetto II 15. Finale: Presto 16. March Total playing time: 63:20 New York Philomusica Records NYPm30008 Manufactured by: New York Philomusica Records, 105 West 73rd Street New York, NY 10023 A. Robert Johnson, Executive Producer An Elite Recordings NYC Production: producing - engineering Marc Aubort, Joanna Nickrenz Cover Design: Morton Millen