Early Mozart violin sonatas often featured the violin merely doubling the piano's melody, essentially functioning as piano sonatas with a supplementary violin.
Interpretation
The performers on this album, Daniel Auner and Robin Green, approach Mozart's chamber music with an 'operatic character', even writing their own 'libretto' for each sonata.
Composer Biography
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed between 36 and 40 violin sonatas over 25 years, starting at age seven.
Instruments
Violinist Daniel Auner's instrument was meticulously reassembled from parts found in poor condition at a Hungarian bazaar and is likely a joint creation by Johann Christoph Leidolff and Hieronymus Amati from 1709.
Compositional Technique
Mozart's mature violin sonatas, unlike his earlier works, feature a clear, dialogic interplay between the violin and piano.
Composer Biography
Mozart quit his service to the Archbishop of Salzburg in 1781 after a violent quarrel and settled in Vienna, where he spent the last ten years of his life.
Composition History
Mozart premiered his Sonata KV 454 with violinist Regina Strinasacchi without a pre-notated piano part, improvising his accompaniment and reportedly placing an empty sheet of music on the piano to deceive the audience.
