LDV106

13 PHILIPPE CASSARD From Idomeneo (1781) to Die Zauberflöte (1791), by way of Le nozze di Figaro , Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte , composed between 1786 and 1790, Mozart conceived everything he did in terms of action and rhythm, movement and mobility, principal and secondary characters, genre scenes and static scenes, infinitely varied expressions and emotions, lighting and stage sets, drama and comedy, farce and coups de théâtre . He just couldn’t do otherwise. The works on the CD are all more or less contemporary with Le nozze di Figaro . Between December 1785 (when he composed the Concerto K482) and December 1786 (the concert aria Ch’io mi scordi di te K505), Mozart touched on almost every genre. Yes, his opera Le nozze di Figaro inaugurated the Da Ponte trilogy and was premiered on 1 May 1786. But there were also three piano concertos, nos. 23 (A major), 24 (C minor) and 25 (C major); two Masonic choruses for the Lodge ‘Crowned Hope’; a horn concerto; the Piano Quartet in E flat major; a piano trio; the Andante and Variations in G major and a sonata for piano four hands; the ‘Hoffmeister’ Quartet K499; and the Trio for clarinet, viola and piano K498. And even twelve duos for two basset horns, which I only got to know while preparing this recording.