New Mozart Work Premiere

by Michael Cook on December 30, 2006
News

A recently discovered 18th-Century keyboard work believed to be one of the earliest by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been performed in Austria.

The piece – about two minutes long – was played by Florian Birsak on a harpsichord in the Salzburg Residenz.

The discovery came in the 250th anniversary year of Mozart’s birth, which was marked by festivities in his homeland and Mozart concerts worldwide.

Experts think Mozart wrote the piece when he was aged between six and 10.

It bears the title Allegro di Wolfgango Mozart and was contained in a volume of anonymous manuscripts given to Salzburg Archdiocese archivist Ernst Hintermaier, Austrian media report.

The reports did not name the person who donated them.

Mozart (1756-1791) was a child prodigy. He composed his first symphony before the age of 10 and his first successful opera by the age of 12.

Before his early death he had created hundreds of solo and orchestral pieces, inspiring the likes of Beethoven and Wagner.

BBC News, 29 December, 2006

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