- Flute and Harp Concerto; and German Dances
It is well known that Mozart was not fond of the flute, as a musical instrument. Still, money was always in demand, so he did compose some flute quartets and three Flute concerti.
At one point, a wealthy nobleman needed new music for his own family’s entertainment. The Count played the flute, and his daughter played the harp. Mozart decided to write a concerto for BOTH instruments, so he’d write just one composition, rather than two.
On this CD, we get to hear the results, as well as some additional shorter compositions:
Mozart:
- Flute and Harp Concerto in C major, K299, performed by Susan Palma (flute) and Nancy Allen (harp)
- German Dances, K567
- German Dances (3), K605
Performed by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Gramophone Magazine wrote the following:
“The soloists are highly skilled and, beyond that, their playing is nicely matched tonally and stylistically. Indeed Palma is delightful while Nancy Allen makes an exquisite sound and also articulates more clearly than many other harpists.”
“Ein musikalischer Spass” (A Musical Joke) was completed within days of the deaths of both Mozart’s father and his beloved pet starling in June 1787. The deliberately clumsy writing, wild horn parts and wrong notes created a sensation with Vienna’s music-loving middle classes, who had no understanding for such stuff.
The six German Dances, K. 567, were written specifically for carnival time at the so-called “Redoutensaal”, the famous Hofburg Palace ballroom in Vienna (which survives to this day), where fashionable society folk used to gather and let their hair down.
‘Three German Dances’ K. 605 were composed in 1791, the year of Mozart’s death. This music is principally celebrated for its enchanting depiction of a sleigh ride (Die Schlittenfahrt ) in the trio section of No. 3.
Here is the Mozart Concerto For Flute, Harp, And Orchestra In C, K. 299:
And here is another performance of the same work, conducted by Neville Marriner:
The Mozart Flute & Harp Concerto C major K 299:
Tags: Mozart, Flue, Harp, Concerto, Six German Dances, Susan Palma, Nancy Allen