Ensemble Marsyas & Peter Whelan - Mozart: Serenade in C Minor, K. 388 - BBC Radio 3 'Record Review'

You should definitely give this new recording your attention. It’s another great Mozart wind serenade – the dark one, in C minor K. 388, and this new historically informed performance from Edinburgh based ensemble Marsyas, is directed by bassoonist Peter Whelan who has decided to add a double bass in line with Viennese Harmoniemusik tradition, as Mozart wanted for his Gran Partita. I picked it as my Record of the Week. It emphasises the dark drama of the C minor key revealing just what a major departure Mozart made here from these traditional entertainments. Superbly disciplined playing, immaculate intonation, lovely colours; here’s the whole thing - four movements. It’s a performance and a recording that really allows us to get to the heart of it.