The term 'pianist' is intentionally avoided in this commentary to describe Mozart, as it implies modern concert grand pianos that did not exist in his time.
Composition History
Mozart himself authorized the use of the fortepiano for his first keyboard sonatas, stating that the last sonata sounded 'incomparable on the Stein pianoforte'.
Composer Biography
Despite his declining reputation as a composer, Mozart was a highly popular and admired keyboard performer throughout his career, especially in Vienna.
Performer Biography
Ronald Brautigam, the fortepiano performer on this album, has developed a reputation as a leading exponent of the fortepiano, with a particular interest in Mozart's music.
Critical Reception
The pianist Arthur Schnabel famously remarked that Mozart's keyboard sonatas are 'too easy for children but too difficult for virtuosos', highlighting their musical depth.
Instruments
Mozart's first public appearance on a fortepiano, a type of early piano, occurred in Munich in the winter of 1774/75, where he was not yet fully accustomed to the instrument.
Critical Reception
During the final years of his life, Mozart's reputation declined, with critics finding his music too difficult for the public of the time.
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