Mozart's Sonata K331, featuring the popular 'Rondo alla turca', emphasizes poetic nuance rather than thematic development, showcasing his focus on expressive detail.
Compositional Technique
Unlike typical sonatas, Mozart's Piano Sonatas K282 and K331 do not begin with a fast movement; K282 starts with an Adagio and K331 with a slow set of variations.
Composer Biography
Mozart's piano compositions, including 19 sonatas, six four-handed sonatas, and one for two pianos, make up about a sixth of his entire musical output.
Historical Context
Mozart's 'Rondo alla turca' was written to align with a popular fashion of his time that admired oriental attire and acknowledged the military power of the Turks.
Performer Biography
Evgeni Koroliov, the pianist on this album, performed the complete 'Well-Tempered Clavier' by Bach in Moscow at the age of seventeen.
Interpretation
Despite the common tendency to play the 'Rondo alla turca' quickly, Mozart marked it 'Allegretto', suggesting a more measured tempo, possibly reflecting the ceremonial pace of Janissary bands.
Composition History
Mozart intended the Fantasia in C minor and the Sonata in C minor to be understood as a single unit, publishing them together as his opus 11.
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