Clementi's Musical Characteristics Op.19, published in 1787, contained preludes and cadenzas imitating the styles of Haydn, Mozart, and others, demonstrating his gift for imitation.
Performer Biography
Ilia Kim, the pianist on this album, made her debut at age 11 and later performed at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1994.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Clementi's works are highly original, stemming from his reflections on European music of the past and present, and should not be reductively placed within Viennese classicism or as merely 'pre-Beethoven'.
Notable Performances
In 1781, Clementi competed with Mozart in a musical contest before Emperor Joseph II and other courtiers.
Cultural Impact
Clementi played a fundamental role in restoring music of the past to contemporary culture, a transformation that still shapes the organization of musical life today.
Composer Biography
Muzio Clementi, at age 32, eloped with a 16-year-old girl in Lyon, but her banker father pursued them and took her back, leading Clementi to a period of deep depression.
Critical Reception
Mozart scornfully described Clementi as a 'mere mechanicus' in a letter to his family, though he acknowledged Clementi's skill in playing passages in thirds.
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