Like virtually all of the works from this most successful of Mozart’s years in Vienna, the Violin Sonata #32 was written for one of his own performances, or more correctly, for a concert given by a young Italian violinist in which Mozart was to participate.
Mozart wrote to his father of the occasion: “We now have here the famous Regina Strinasacchi from Mantua, a very good violinist. She has a great deal of taste and feeling in her playing. I am composing a sonata which we are going to play together on Thursday at her concert in the theater.”
The resultant work was clearly geared for virtuosos of both instruments, the violin part being on the same level of impor- tance as the piano and not merely an accessory to it. But the attractive and gifted Strinasacchi inspired Mozart to more than creating a showpiece; the B-flat Sonata is a composition of real stature, as striking for its musical substance as for its dashing instrumental excellence.
Here are pianist Daniel Barenboim and his son, violinist Michael Barenboim, (see photo) to perform this sonata for you:
