Mozart: Complete Quintets, Vol. 5

Album review

The existence of this disc is proof of the deep beauty and the great goodness of life. Mozart's clarinet and horn quintets are simply sublime, music as humane and profound as any ever composed anywhere by anyone, music of such ephemeral grace and supreme elegance that the transience of time is transcended as the pellucid air of eternity wafts through its measures. That this 2003 recording by the Ensemble Villa Musica realizes the humanity and the profundity of Mozart's music is more than enough to hear it. That it is also one of the most sonorously beautiful recordings ever made is more than enough. That Ulf Rodenhauser's clarinet sings with the voice of a seraphim and that the Villa Musica string quartet sings with the voices of cherubim is more than enough. That Musickproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm captures the reality of the instruments is more than enough. That Radovan Vlatkovic's natural horn sings with the voices of Bacchus and the Villa Musica string quartet sings with the voices of Bacchantes is more than enough. But that MDG puts the listener in a verdant and sylvan glade with them is more than enough. It is simply sublime. Anyone who loves life will love this disc.
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