Ars Antigua Presents: November 2010 edition

In 1769, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was appointed Konzertmeister at the Salzburg Court by the Archbishop. Beginning that same year, Mozart and his father made three tours of Italy, where the young composer studied Italian opera and produced two successful efforts, Mitridate and Lucio Silla. In 1773, Mozart was back in Austria, where he spent most of the next few years composing. He wrote all his violin concertos between 1774 and 1777, as well as Masses, symphonies, and chamber works. Among these was this Divertimento in Bb Major (K. 137), the second of which is known as the “Salzburg Symphonies,” though it is only scored for strings.

Here are Elizabeth Blumenstock and Patricia Ahern, violins, Elizabeth Holzman, viola, John Mark Rozendaal, cello, and Jerry Fuller, double bass, playing Mozart’s Divertimento in Bb Major, K. 137.

Length: 12:29