In 18th-century Italy, vocal music dominated the musical scene, leading to a 'diaspora of Italian instrumental music' as composers of chamber and orchestral music moved abroad.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mozart's Milanese Quartets are seen as a response to the challenges posed by Joseph Haydn, the 'father of the quartet,' and an impressive essay in absolute music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The autograph score of the Milanese Quartets reveals Mozart's 'romantic crisis,' where he paid greater attention to the aesthetic significance and emotional depth of his compositions.
Composition History
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father, Leopold Mozart, initially intended for his son's 'Grand Tour' of Italy to focus on vocal music, both sacred and operatic.
Performer Biography
The VenEthos Ensemble, founded in 2016, performs 18th and 19th-century quartet repertoire on period instruments, drawing on the Venetian string music tradition.
Composition History
Mozart composed his String Quartet KV 80 (73f), known as 'Lodi', in just a few hours during a break at an inn in the Lombard town of Lodi.
Compositional Technique
Mozart's Milanese Quartets, while retaining the archaic three-movement structure of the divertimento, specify 'violoncello' instead of the ambiguous 'basso,' confirming their intent as string quartets.
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