Dorfmusikanten Sextett "Ein Musikalischer Spaß" KV 522 / Divertimento D-dur KV 136

This Deutsche Grammophon release, catalog number 2530 946, features the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Rudolf Barshai. The recording pairs Mozart’s lighthearted Divertimento in D Major, KV 136, with the satirical 'Ein Musikalischer Spaß' (A Musical Joke), KV 522. Written in 1787, KV 522 was intended as a humorous parody of incompetent village musicians, intentionally incorporating clumsy phrasing and harmonic errors that were highly sophisticated in their construction.

Rudolf Barshai, a distinguished violist and conductor, founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in 1955, establishing it as one of the Soviet Union's most prestigious ensembles. His interpretation of Mozart is noted for its precision and clarity, reflecting the high technical standards he instilled in his musicians. This particular pressing highlights the interplay between the orchestra's disciplined performance and the inherent playfulness of Mozart's composition, a hallmark of Barshai’s work with the DG label during this period.