Mozart: Haffner Serenade & Ein musikalischer Spaß Die Kölner Akademie & Michael Alexander Willens

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): March in D Major, K. 249 "Haffner":
• 1 March in D Major, K. 249 "Haffner" 04:03
• Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner":
• 2 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": I. Serenata 09:43
• 3 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": II. Andante 08:32
• 4 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": III. Menuetto - Trio 04:01
• 5 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": IV. Rondeau 08:58
• 6 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": V. Menuetto galante - Trio 05:45
• 7 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": VI. Andante 07:14
• 8 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": VII. Menuetto 05:07
• 9 Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250 "Haffner": VIII. Adagio - Allegro assai 10:58
• Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522:
• 10 Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522: I. Allegro 04:30
• 11 Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522: II. Menuetto 06:20
• 12 Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522: III. Andante cantabile 05:28
• 13 Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522: IV. Presto 04:27
• Total Runtime 01:25:06

Info for Mozart: Haffner Serenade & Ein musikalischer Spaß

Besides an acclaimed series of recordings with Ronald Brautigam of the complete piano concertos by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Beethoven, Kölner Akademie and Michael Alexander Willens are undertaking a survey of Mozart’s serenades and other incidental works. Their first album in this series included the Posthorn Serenade and demonstrated, according to the reviewer on MusicWeb-International, that the ensemble is ‘amongst the best groups in the world of period performance.’ Since then the team has recorded works associated with the Freemasons, and here takes on one of the most famous of the serenades, the ‘Haffner’, named after Sigmund Haffner, who commissioned it for the festivities surrounding his sister’s wedding in 1776. A notable feature of Mozart’s serenades – and the large-scale Haffner is no exception – is the incorporation of virtuosic solo parts, here performed by the violinist Alexander Janiczek. On the amply-filled disc (almost 86 minutes!), the at times quite imposing Haffner is followed by Mozart’s ‘Musical Joke’ – Ein musikalischer Spaß, K. 522. A work in four movements, this is a delightful and very skillfully crafted parody of musical incompetence. It is written for strings and a pair of horns, and its frequent caricatures of the second-rate – whether in composition or performance – are brilliantly observed, by Mozart as well as the present performers.

“…the excellent players of Die Kölner Akademie who demonstrate once again that they are amongst the best groups in the world of period performance.” (Music Web international)

"…an hour and a quarter of pleasurable music in fine performances." (Gramophone)

Alexander Janiczek, violin
Kölner Akademie
Michael Alexander Willens, conductor

Die Kölner Akademie
is a unique ensemble based in Cologne which performs music of the seventeenth through the twenty first centuries on period instruments with world renowned guest soloists.

The ensemble seeks to bring out the composers’ intentions by using urtext editions, historically informed performance practice,and the proper number of performers for each work.

Die Kölner Akademie has received the highest critical acclaim for its outstanding performances at major festivals and concert halls in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and the Middle East. Many of these performances were broadcast live and several were filmed for television.

In addition, they have recorded more than 40 CDs for the CPO and ARS Produktion labels which feature world premiere performances of music spanning 3 centuries. Several of these recordings have been nominated for prizes; their recording of Johann Mattheson’s Das Größte Kind received an Echo Klassik Prize and their recording of Bernhard Romberg’s symphonies received a SUPERSONIC award.

Die Kölner Akademie is recording a complete set of Mozart piano concertos with fortepianist Ronald Brautigam for BIS records. All of these recordings have received outstanding international praise.

Michael Alexander Willens
music director of Die Kölner Akademie, studied conducting with John Nelson at the Juilliard School in New York, where he received B.M. and M.M. degrees. He has also studied with Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, as well as choral conducting with Paul Vorwerk. Willens’ broad experience has given him an unusual depth of background and familiarity with performance practice styles ranging from baroque, classical and romantic through to contemporary as well as jazz and pop music.

Mr. Willens has conducted concerts at major concert halls and festivals in Europe, South America, Asia, Iceland, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel and the United States, receiving the highest critical praise: “The success of the whole owed in large measure to the uncommonly precise, yet never affected gestures of Michael Alexander Willens”.

In addition to the standard repertoire, Michael Alexander Willens is dedicated to performing works by lesser-known contemporary American composers and has conducted several world premières, many of which have been broadcast live or filmed for television. He is also keenly interested in re-discovering music from the past and has released over 40 CDs featuring this repertoire. Several of these recordings have been nominated and received awards. They have all received outstanding international reviews, : “Willens achieves an impeccably stylish and enjoyable performance.” (Gramophone ) ,,…conductor Michael Alexander Willens exploits every bar of the score to fullest expressive effect. (Fanfare)

He has guest conducted orchestras in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Brazil and Israel in addition to his commitment to Die Kölner Akademie.

Booklet for Mozart: Haffner Serenade & Ein musikalischer Spaß