MOZART: Sonatas For Piano Four Hands [CD de audio] Elena Modena & Ilario Gregoletto and Mozart

As one of the great virtuoso pianists of his time, Mozart composed a large number of piano concertos and sonatas that are 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 the publishers published, they provide evidence of the healthy domestic music scene existing during the classical period. First to appear 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 piano duets. Turning to KV381 and KV358 (dating from the early 1770s), we find two sonatas whose gallant world is reminiscent of the Salzburg Symphonies of roughly contemporary times. His allusion to orchestral coloring is not surprising given the fuller sonority offered by two players rather than one, and there is no doubt that Mozart wrote the works to be performed 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. Composed of a charming collection of works, the compilation as a whole is full of musicality and includes historically informed performances of Modena and Gregoletto on fortepiano, a beautifully balanced partnership that argues convincingly for the equal status of duets alongside works for soloists.