Music for more than one piano and orchestra was rare in Mozart’s day, although the form would seem to be natural for a composer whose youthful career featured his own keyboard virtuosity combined with that of his sister, Nanerl.
At the time Mozart composed his Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, not only was the piano still evolving as an instrument, but finding two of them in one space in Austria was also a challenge. Mozart was fortunate to find two keyboards in Vienna at the home of future wife, Constanze, and likely conceived his Double Concerto for his own renowned brother-sister act.
Our two performers in the video below easily recreated a friendly musical sibling rivalry and “one-upmanship” which Mozart may well have experienced performing with his sister Nannerl.
Here are Ms. Argerich and Ms. Pires to play this concerto for you:
