Jérôme Hantaï, the performer on this album, studied viola da gamba with Wieland Kuijken and is also highly interested in historical pianos.
Composer Biography
Mozart's great love, Aloisia Weber, married actor and painter Joseph Lange, who later created a famous, unfinished portrait of the composer.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mozart's discovery of the polyphony of Bach and Handel, facilitated by Baron van Swieten, profoundly influenced his later works, though assimilation was not immediate.
Compositional Technique
Mozart was highly enthusiastic about the fortepianos made by Johann Andreas Stein, particularly praising their 'escape action' which allowed for an even tone.
Instruments
The piano used for this recording is an anonymous 18th-century instrument, restored by Christopher Clarke, which aligns with the emerging South German piano tradition.
Recording & Production
This recording was made on February 10 and 11, 2020, at the Elizabethan Theatre in Hardelot, with Jiri Heger as artistic director, recording, and editing.
Performer Biography
Jérôme Hantaï performs internationally as a soloist and is a member of the Trio Hantaï with his brothers Marc and Pierre, and leads his own ensemble, Spes Nostra.
