Mozart Divertimenti / Divertimenti, K.136, K.137, K.138 / Serenata Notturna, K.239

Released by London Records in 1980, this recording captures the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields under the direction of Sir Neville Marriner, a partnership widely credited with defining the 'modern' sound of Mozart's early works during the late 20th century. Recorded at a time when the ensemble was at its peak in international popularity, the album brings together three divertimenti and the Serenata Notturna, pieces written by a teenage Mozart in Salzburg that balance sophisticated structure with light, spirited melodies.

The design and production philosophy behind this series focused on clarity, precision, and an upbeat, chamber-focused approach that moved away from the heavy romantic interpretations common in previous decades. Marriner's work with the Academy became the gold standard for baroque and classical period performance in the 1970s and 80s, valued by critics for the ensemble's tight rhythmic interplay and the warm, resonant engineering typical of the London Records releases of that era.