Mozart – The 2 piano quartets

Discogs

Mozart wrote these pieces when he was already known for a talented composer of complicated pieces. He didn’t disappoint here, to the effect that his publisher told him the first was already too difficult. Even though he had paid for three quartets, he told Mozart the one would do. Mozart wrote the second anyway, published nine months later.

Both works are written for the already invented Viennese fortepiano, instead of the more common harpsichord. I don’t think Ingrid Haebler is playing the fortepiano here though, but adjusting the piece for a modern piano is trivial.

This recording is already made in the age of the CD: both works used to be performed without any repeats (that Mozart prescribed). That way the length of the recording fit one of each on both sides of the record. By 1984 pressing and mastering techniques had progressed, so it was now possible to put more than 28 minutes on one side. It was now possible to put the full performance, including repeats, on the record. Like it could be done on CD.

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