Mozart: Divertimento in E flat major, K563

BIS is delighted to release the debut recording of the star-studded ensemble, Trio Zimmermann, formed by Frank Peter Zimmermann, Antoine Tamestit and Christian Poltéra. Here they perform W.A. Mozart’s Divertimento in E flat major which the scholar Alfred Einstein described as ‘Each instrument is primus inter pares, every note is significant …’ Composed in the same year as the three final symphonies, Mozart’s only real trio for violin, viola and cello is a weighty work – six movements and close to 50 minutes of music – and the fact that Mozart chose the title Divertimento (from the Italian divertire: to amuse) for a piece of these dimensions has often been remarked upon.

To round off the disc, the trio perform Franz Schubert’s first contribution to the string trio genre, the opening – and only complete – movement (Allegro) of his String Trio in B flat major, D 471, written in 1816 by the nineteen-year-old composer.

After more than half a decade, the Grammis (Swedish Grammy) award winning - string duo ZilliacusPerssonRaitinen is back with a new album on Caprice Records. In 2004 the Bach/Goldberg variations (CAP21695) was on the menu, and dined out on a Grammis in 2005. This time they have selected Mozart’s magnificent Divertimento for string trio in E flat major, and the trio will be looking to repeat their previous success.

At the peak of his powers, but beset by cash-flow problems brought on by living beyond his means, Mozart composed his famous String Trio, K. 563 for his friend, fellow-mason and creditor Johann Michael Puchberg. While labelled ‘Divertimento’, this masterful six movement work is one of Mozart’s most substantial pieces for string trio and one of his greatest works.

The Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud, who has made a number of highly-praised Naxos recordings, joins prize-winning compatriot Lars Anders Tomter (who has recorded the Walton Viola Concerto for Naxos) and acclaimed German cellist Christoph Richter.

The Mozart trio featured here is one of the most important works in chamber music. Mozart called the work a “Divertimento di sei pezzi” (in six movements) and it is a unique work with a unique musical quality and effect too.

This new release highlights some of Mozart’s lesser-known works, all for string trio: the Divertimento in E flat major, KV 563 and two of the Fugues with slow Preludes from the set of six, KV 404a (after Bach).

The Divertimento, KV 563 is not only Mozart’s sole large-scale composition for string trio, it is also one of the first works ever written for the combination of violin, viola, and cello. It was composed in 1788, the same year as three of Mozart’s greatest and best-known works, the symphonies in E flat, G minor, and C (the ‘Jupiter’). Mozart was at the absolute height of his powers as a composer, and at the premiere of the divertimento in Dresden in 1789, he himself played the viola part.

The title ‘Divertimento’ implies music that is not excessively demanding or intense, but which exhibits a light-hearted appeal that was deemed perfect for the social and musical gatherings of the late eighteenth century. In this work by Mozart, however, each of the three instruments is called upon in turn to take on the role of virtuoso soloist, which ultimately takes KV 563 away from the being a mere ‘divertimento’, in terms of music entertainment, into something more profound.

The authorship of the Six Fugues with Slow Preludes, KV 404a is uncertain, but they are commonly considered to be works by Mozart. Nos 4 and 5, featured on this release, are transcriptions of works by Bach. In No. 4, the prelude comes from Bach’s organ trio Sonata No. 3, and the fugue is Contrapunctus VIII from Die Kunst der Fuge. The fifth prelude and fugue are formed from the second and third movements of Bach’s second organ sonata.

The works are performed by The Hermitage String Trio, one of the finest emsembles of its type. Steeped in the Russian tradition of string playing, the Trio has performed with such great musicians as Yehudi Menuhin, Martha Argerich, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Gidon Kremer, and has given concerts at the Petworth, Newbury Spring, and Dart festivals, at the Sage, Gateshead, and the Wigmore Hall, London. It has also given concerts in France, Germany, and Australia, among others. In 2008, the distinguished violinist Boris Garlitsky joined the founder members Alexander Zemtsov, principal viola of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Leonid Gorokhov, who enjoys a flourishing career as a solo cellist. ‘True brilliance!’ noted The Strad of a recent performance by The Hermitage String Trio, adding: ‘This ensemble will do much to put more string trio repertoire on the musical map.’

For its first CD, of Mozart’s complete oeuvre for string trio, the TrioFenix offers us a treat which includes the Divertimento K563 and the six fugues by Bach, transcribed for trio by Mozart. This newly-founded Trio gathers three soloists from the ensembles Oxalys, Quatuor Danel and Beethoven Academie.

Concerto is an independent classical label which was launched on the market by Musicmedia at the beginning of year 2000. The Label is mainly focusing on Italian music repertoire as well as Italian composers by widening one’s knowledge of baroque music and antique music up to the 18th century as well as contemporary classical music by featuring young and very talented Italian Artists, by also discovering repertoire which is not so well known. This, the newest release, features Francesco Manara, Simonide Braconi and Massimo Polidori playing Mozart KV423, KV424 and KV563.