Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a guest at Dušek's villa Bertramka di Košìre outside Prague in 1787, where he likely completed the notation for his operas Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito.
Recording & Production
This album is considered the first attempt to record Dušek's complete works for solo fortepiano and is one of the most comprehensive undertakings concerning his piano music.
Composer Biography
František Xaver Dušek, a Czech composer, was the son of a peasant and studied music in Prague and Vienna before returning to Prague, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Composer Biography
Dušek became a sought-after and esteemed fortepiano teacher in Prague, with famous pupils including Leopold Koželuh and even Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's son, Carl Thomas Mozart.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Dušek's authentic personal style is found in his slow movements, expressing a pacific, poised, and elegant personality that rejected excess in favor of transparency and essential quality.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Dušek's compositional output often served a didactic purpose, featuring both elaborate pieces and more rudimentary ones with a clear pedagogical intent.
Instruments
Three period instruments were used for this recording: a Viennese fortepiano (copy of Nanette Streicher, c.1797), an original fortepiano by Johann Schantz (c.1805-1810), and a copy of a German harpsichord (c.1720).
