Mozart: Divertimenti de Salzbourg

Ensemble Philidor

CAL 9329

Start into the seriousness of life When father and son Mozart returned to their native Salzburg in 1773 from a long journey to Italy, the joy of seeing their mother Mozart and sister Nannerl again will not have been undiminished. For three years in a row, Leopold and Wolfgang had taken a vacation and set off for Italy to find employment for the young master in the motherland of music. Three times they had returned home empty-handed, showered with honors and useless gifts. In any case, there were too many musicians in Italy who had already had to emigrate all over the world to earn a living far from home. Why should one bring a highly talented stranger into the country, who with the never-ending source of his imagination only spoiled the economic situation for his colleagues. Moreover, his father liked to perform with the self-confidence of the famous violin teacher, but what did a violin teacher from the icy north in the motherland of the violin, the home of a Corelli and Tartini, mean? So no job for the little man, better send him back to the Teutonic province, let him try his luck north of the Alps. • And so he did. Again and again he stole away from Salzburg to Munich, where he was always welcome at court, but could not get a job due to a lack of vacancies. With gritted teeth he did his Salzburg service with the unloved and unmusical Prince Bishop Colloredo, for whose entertainment the wind divertimenti recorded here were also composed. There is no sign of Mozart's dissatisfaction in these works; their tone is light, the atmosphere charming, the voice-leading masterly. It almost seems as if Mozart was only really happy when composing and making music. This is supported by the fact that the original manuscript of one of the twelve pieces for two horns reads: "Vienna, the 27th Julius 1787 under bowling discs" - Mozart never lost his joy of composing, even during the amusing bowling part!

CD x 1

Calliope

17.05.2004

794881725724