The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's Splendour of Mozart season set off modestly, with a programme very much based around its string section.
The D major Divertimento K 136 is one of Mozart's sunniest works, with the tang of youth in every phrase. It's no accident that, back in the
'90s, both its fast movements featured in a CD titled Mozart for your Morning Workout.
Alas, on Thursday, the opening Allegro sounded more warm up than workout.
Scales which should be euphonious ripples were ragged in intonation; Italian conductor Piero Bellugi delivered an energetic beat, but the music had neither the subtlety of line or the wit and exuberance one had been expecting.
If the Divertimento was the work of a 16-year-old, then Mozart's Jeunehomme concerto marked his coming of age, being written a month after his 21st birthday.
Despite a few blurred moments, pianist Henry Wong Doe played with aplomb and character. Perhaps he could have invested the melodic outpourings of the Andantino with a little more affection, but it was good to hear the dance character of the Finale's Menuetto interlude being firmly preserved.
After interval, Luciani's Le Tombeau Perdu proved to be a vibrant tribute to Mozart, a shortish piece that seemed more Wagnerian or Straussian than anything to do with the 18th-century composer.
It certainly brought out a welcome sense of fervour in both conductor and players.
Mozart's 29th Symphony is one of his zestiest scores but, on this occasion, too much of it came across as simply drab.
Every movement was scarred. The opening Allegro was burdened with a plodding second subject while the Andante simply needed more buoyant phrasing.
A sprightly Minuet was wrapped around a lugubrious Trio and the Finale seemed content to work its way through to its final cadence, which was terminally smudged by one of too many horn mishaps of the evening.
I was reminded of the words of the harpsichordist Wanda Landowska who, speaking of the difficulties that Mozart's music poses, warned how the least speck of dust spoils it.
One trusts that some musical housekeeping is being investigated before the APO returns on Friday with more Mozart.
