Mozart Colloredo Serenade & Divertimento - SCO & Alexander Janiczek - BBC Music Magazine

The first of these two works used to be known as the Colloredo Serenade, because it was thought to have been written as entertainment music for the name-day of Mozart's employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg. Like some of Mozart's other multi-movement serenades, including the better-known Haffner K250, it incorporates a miniature violin concerto; and it could also be dismantled to form a four-movement symphony for use on other occasions.

The Divertimento K251 may not have any moments that quire match the second Andante from K203, with its murmuring accompaniment on muted second violins and its ecstatic oboe melody, but its tunes are generally catchier. One of its movements is a courtly minuet which is played again between each of the following variations; to ring the changes on such a repetitive scheme Alexander Janiczek and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra imaginatively introduce drum-like pizzicatos and solo string passages. It's all undemanding but enjoyable stuff, and played here with unfailing musicality.

It's refreshing these days, too, not to have to sit through every single repeat where the musical quality doesn't necessarily warrant a second hearing.