Blomstedt, 97, premieres adolescent Mozart
OrchestrasThe Serenade in C K 648 for two violins and bass, nicknamed A Very Little Night Music, was discovered recently in Leipzig and performed at the Gewandhaus. Now the veteran Herbert Blomstedt has recorded an expanded version for DG.
He says: ‘It is an unexpected gift that at the age of 97 was able to take on the first recording of an early work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The fact that the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig was the most compelling musical partner for this is because I have a long history and close partnership with the orchestra and because the Mozart manuscript was discovered in Leipzig. Performing it symphonically with a choral string section instead of using a pure chamber music setup with individual violins and bass required some thought, but in the end, it led to a very convincing result. Ultimately, we are following in the tradition of the sister serenade ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’, which has also established itself as a symphonic work. We are pleased to have provided a small initial impetus for what will surely become a long history of interpretations for Mozart’s Serenade in C K. 648.’
So all these complete Mozart CD editions urgently require reissuing!
Well, in the comments for the record of the week / Balkan music, I recommend a different type of Night Music.
What a great timing.
Ian Anderson may now feel invited to issue “A Very Little Light Music”.
I can’t wait to see him next month with the philharmonia. What a legend
I hope someone may be able to share the exact details of this expanded version performed “symphonically with a choral string section” (and please, not just conjecture).
I found a wonderful unlisted recording of this Ganz Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 648 with 2 violins, cello, and harpsichord continuo (which would have been appropriate to include before 1770 when this was composed). So I’m hoping they at least included the harpsichord in the DG recording.
I wonder though if they merely expanded the number of players and added a Contrabass (such as perhaps 8 first violins, 6 second violins, 3 cellos, 2 basses), or if in some strange way they attempted to even add an extra viola part (which I would think they would not do). The description here was unclear enough to leave one wondering.