Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 11 and 13 (arr. for piano quintet)

Featuring

Richard Burnett
Finchcocks String Quartet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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Compositional Technique

In these concertos, Mozart ensured that only the piano and strings are essential, with other instruments merely doubling string parts, allowing for chamber music interpretations.

Instruments

The fortepiano used in this recording, built by Michael Rosenberger in Vienna, is an example of the instrument type Mozart played, featuring knee levers for sustaining and tone alteration.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Mozart deliberately scored these concertos so they could be performed as piano quintets or with a full orchestra, aiming to make them accessible to a wider audience.

Composition History

Mozart wrote Piano Concertos Nos. 11 and 13 in F major and C major, respectively, along with No. 12, in the autumn of 1782 for his subscription concerts in Vienna.

Performer Biography

Richard Burnett, the fortepiano player on this album, began his interest in early pianos in the 1960s and founded Finchcocks, a museum housing his collection of historical pianos.

Recording & Production

The fortepiano for this recording was prepared and tuned by William Dow, the curator of the Finchcocks Museum.

Interpretation

Performing these concertos as piano quintets with period instruments offers a stylistic advantage, as the 'Mozart' piano blends naturally with strings while providing a piquant contrast.