Dissatisfied in Vienna
Donald Macleod considers why, disheartened in Vienna, Mozart considered moving to London.
He took the 'land of the clavier', Vienna, by storm, becoming something of a pioneer in composing piano concertos, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
In 1786, Mozart organised a number of subscription concerts at the Burgtheatre in Vienna. At these events he performed his latest music, including the Concerto No 23 in A major K488 for piano and orchestra. His popularity as a concert pianist had by now peaked, and Mozart was frustrated that he'd still not been able to secure a position at court.
Mozart now cancelled any further subscription concerts, and considered moving to France or England where he thought the prospects were better. The Emperor Joseph II upon hearing the rumours that Mozart was planning to leave, promptly offered him the post of chamber musician. Set against this good fortune, was the tragic news that Mozart's father Leopold had died. Around this time of grief Mozart composed relatively little, but he did complete his opera Don Giovanni K527.
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Music Played
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Le Nozze Di Figaro - Opera In 4 Acts K.492 - Extracts
Conductor: Ferdinand Leitner. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.- Deutsche Grammophon: 4238742.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 1.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto No. 23 In A Major K.488 For Piano And Orchestra
Performer: Alfred Brendel. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.- PHILIPS : 420-487-2.
- PHILIPS.
- 2.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Quintet In C Major K.515 For Strings - 3rd movement; Andante
Performer: Irmgard Schaller. Performer: Emilio Moreno. Performer: Chiara Banchini. Performer: Enrico Gatti. Performer: Käthi Gohl.- Harmonia Mundi: HMC901512.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 2.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Don Giovanni - Opera In 2 Acts K.527 - Act 2;
Singer: Johannes Weisser. Conductor: René Jacobs. Singer: Lorenzo Regazzo. Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-80196466.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 16.
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 May 201512:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 7 May 201518:30BBC Radio 3
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