Mozart: Andante and Variations in G for Piano Duet, K501

Sony Classical ORIGINALS offer listeners outstanding enjoyment, authentically recapturing the fascination of legendary recordings from the age of long-playing records and preserving worthwhile releases from two labels with particularly long and distinguished traditions: RCA Red Seal and Columbia Masterworks. These superb recordings by great artists have enjoyed international acclaim ever since they were first released. Showered with critical plaudits, they are part of the 20th century’s cultural legacy. All have been remastered and carefully restored using the latest studio technology in order to reproduce the original interpretations as faithfully as possible. The CD covers are taken over from the original LPs. The original introductions and LP labels are also reproduced in full, making Sony Classical ORIGINALS unique documents in the history of recorded sound.

Featuring original LP cover artwork in full size and reproduction of original labels in mini LP design.

Contains original liner notes in 3 languages (English, French and German) Jewel case packaging with fully coloured booklets.

The Sony Classical Originals bring together for the first time at the Mid Price the greatest recordings from across all of the labels which are part of the Sony Classical umbrella, and are a perfect starting point for any classical collector.

The Arp Schnitger organ in St. Ludger’s Church in Norden is among the most important baroque instruments of its kind.

The artists perform an appealing programme designed to demonstrate the strengths of the instrument.

This is Luchterhandt and Janssen’s third release on “their instrument”.

As one of the great virtuoso pianists of his time, Mozart composed a wealth of piano concertos and sonatas that rank among his most famous instrumental works. Not so well known, however, are the duet compositions he wrote for the instrument and to which this CD is dedicated: together with the large body of arranged orchestral music that publishers released, they provide evidence of the healthy scene of domestic music-making in existence during the Classical period.

First to be featured on the compilation is the Sonata in C, KV19d – a composition whose authorship has been disputed but which has nevertheless become part of the traditional canon of Mozart’s piano duets. Moving on to KV381 and KV358 (which both date from the early 1770s), we encounter two sonatas whose galant sound world is reminiscent of the roughly contemporary ‘Salzburg Symphonies’. Their allusion to orchestral colouring is hardly surprising given the fuller sonority afforded by two players instead of one, and there is little doubt that Mozart wrote the works in order to perform them with his sister Nannerl, who was an excellent pianist.

Mozart would periodically return to four-hand piano music later in his career – the Fugue in G minor K401 and the Andante with Variations in G K501 date from the early 1780s and 1786 respectively. Comprising a charming collection of works, the compilation as a whole brims with musicality and includes historically informed performances from Modena and Gregoletto on fortepiano – a beautifully balanced partnership that convincingly argues for the duets’ equal standing alongside solo works.

New booklet note by David Threasher

Paul Badura-Skoda is one of the most important pianists of our time. On this CD, he performs with Jörg Demus. Many of his recordings have won international awards. The works are performed on period instruments.

An addition the DECCA Originals range to mark the 70th birthday of Stephen Kovacevich [17 October].

The original LP release containing Bartók's Sonata for two pianos and percussion with works by Mozart & Debussy won a Gramophone Award in 1978 for Best Chamber Music recording.

Stephen Kovacevich's recordings of Bartók have long been regarded as reference recordings, and also included in this reissue are his acclaimed performances of the Sonatina and Out of Doors.

Booklet contains an appreciation by David Gutman.