Serenade N°9 KV 320 "Posthorn" / "Cor De Postillon" / "Post-Horn" / Serenade N°6 KV 239 Serenata Notturna

This 1984 release by the Orchestre de Chambre Jean-François Paillard captures two of Mozart’s most spirited serenades: the Serenade No. 9 in D Major, K. 320, known as the 'Posthorn,' and the Serenade No. 6, K. 239, the 'Serenata Notturna.' Composed in 1779 to celebrate the end of a university year in Salzburg, the 'Posthorn' serenade is celebrated for its inclusion of the post-horn, a brass instrument that provided a rustic, outdoor color to the orchestral textures. The 'Serenata Notturna,' written earlier in 1776, is characterized by the playfulness of its double-orchestra configuration, pitting a small concertino against a larger ripieno string ensemble.

Jean-François Paillard and his chamber orchestra were instrumental in the mid-to-late 20th-century revival of Baroque and early Classical repertoire. Known for a precise, clean, and transparent sound, Paillard’s approach aimed to clarify the structural brilliance of Mozart’s writing without the heavy romanticism often applied by larger symphonic ensembles of that era. Released on the French label Erato, this recording exemplifies the label's commitment to high-fidelity chamber music and reflects the scholarly yet accessible performance practice that defined Paillard’s career throughout the 1970s and 1980s.