Program – Die Zauberflöte
Content:
Setting
traverso, violin, viola & cello
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1764-1792)
Quartet in C for flute, violin, viola & cello, KV Anh. 171 (285b) (16′)
Allegro, Thema mit Variationen
Divertimento for string trio in E-flat major, KV 563 (9′)
Allegro
Die Zauberflöte, KV 620 (15′)
In an adaptation by Franz Heinrich Ehrenfried for flute quartet
Selection
Duo in G for violin & viola, KV 423 (9′)
Adagio, Rondeau. Allegro
Quartet in D for flute, violin, viola & cello, KV 285 (16’30”)
Allegro, Adagio, Rondeau
Program text
Those looking for ‘sunny music’ will find the quartets for traverso and three strings by Mozart (KV 285 and 285b) to their liking. They are delightful pieces of music intended for intimate music-making, with catchy melodies and refined interplay between the flute and strings. And who doesn’t melt away at the lovely middle movement of KV 285, with the plucked strings, an imitation of a serenade by the singer-lover with his guitar? In the second movement of KV 285b, Mozart demonstrates his talent for illuminating a melody from all sides in a series of six variations, concluding with a dancing climax. That the traverso was incredibly popular at the time is evident from the contemporary arrangements of arias from operas, such as from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. More attuned to continuous dialogue playing is the beautiful duo for violin and viola KV 423. A highlight of Mozart’s oeuvre for three strings is undoubtedly the beautiful opening movement of the Trio for strings KV 563, a late masterpiece whose subtle interweaving of voices and substantive depth can rival his late string quartets. A programme to savour!
Ignace Bossuyt
