Mozart allowed for flexible instrumentation in these concertos, suggesting they could be performed with a full orchestra or just a string quartet.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart described his piano concertos as a medium between 'too heavy and too light,' brilliant and pleasant for both connoisseurs and laymen.
Composition History
Mozart's piano concertos K. 413-415 and K. 449 were among the first of 17 significant concertos he composed in Vienna, establishing his reputation as a virtuoso.
Historical Context
Mozart, as one of the first freelance musicians, settled in Vienna in 1782 and composed four new piano concertos to earn income through his own concert academies.
Recording & Production
The album aims to capture the unique atmosphere of live performances by recording concerts in direct 2-Track Stereo digital.
Critical Reception
A contemporary report from March 1783 noted that Mozart's academy, featuring his new concertos, was met with 'extraordinarily strong approval' from the audience and the monarch.
Performer Biography
Pianist Christoph Soldan's international career breakthrough came in 1989 during a tour with the world-famous conductor Leonard Bernstein, who praised Soldan's 'soulful size'.
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