Mozart - The Piano Quartets - Francesca Dego, Federico Colli (2023) [24-96]

Artist: Francesca Dego, Timothy Ridout, Laura van der Heijden, Federico Colli

Title: Mozart: The Piano Quartets

Year Of Release: 2023

Label: Chandos

Genre: Classical

Quality: 24bit-96kHz FLAC (tracks + booklet)

Total Time: 68:16

Total Size: 1.10 GB



Tracklist:



1. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, K. 478: I. Allegro (15:13)

2. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, K. 478: II. Andante (7:15)

3. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, K. 478: III. Rondo (7:55)

4. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 493: I. Allegro (15:31)

5. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 493: II. Larghetto (13:11)

6. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 493: III. Allegretto (9:14)



Following a highly successful series of concerts in the summer of 2022, Francesca Dego, Timothy Ridout, Laura van der Heijden, and Federico Colli headed into the studio to record Mozart's Piano Quartets. Whilst he may not have been the first composer to add a viola to the popular piano trio, Mozart was certainly the first to do so with such outstanding success. In his piano quartets, the strings become an equal partner to the piano, rather than mere accompaniment - much as in his piano concertos. This link is reinforced by his choice of form - unlike his string quartets, the piano quartets have three movements rather than four: a full-bodied movement in sonata form, a lighter central slow movement in a related key, and a rondo finale. Both works were composed during the three-year period, from February 1784 to December 1786, in which Mozart wrote twelve piano concertos. The first quartet is written in the key of G minor - rarely used by Mozart - and the overall mood is quite dark, almost disturbing. The second quartet, in E flat major, is by contrast much sunnier in atmosphere. Consequently, the two works together make for a very satisfying programme.



Federico Colli, piano

Francesca Dego, violin

Timothy Ridout, viola

Laura van der Heijden, cello