Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vorarlberg Conservatory Ensemble, Hans-Udo Kreuels :: Mozart: London Sketchbook (1764/5)

Magnificient Miniatures

Joshua Grasso | Oxford, OH USA | 06/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fascinating realization of some of Mozart's earliest pieces, but one that is far from a mere curiosity. The fledgling works of famous composers rarely encourage exploration on any but the most academic level; Mozart, of course, is the rare exception. Anyone who has heard his early symphonies (even the First) realizes that they stand on their own as agreeable, enjoyable compositions. These works are no different. Each miniature sparkles with charm and wit, while some exhibit genuine pathos. I expected to like the disc without particularly admiring it, but the opposite is true: I play this disc often and couldn't name a single track I consider filler or lifeless. From the opening Alegretto to the tempestuous Allegro assai K15P, I found myself in awe of the young Mozart's inspiration and invention. And then you find a piece like the Siciliano, K15u, which he shouldn't have been able to write at such a young age! Naturally, these are realizations, so things were smoothed over and in some cases completed; however, I think this only allows us to imagine what they might have been, had Mozart returned to these pieces. Hans-Udo Kreuels's intellect and playing is astounding, and I consider this one of the rare gems of my Mozart collection. Whether you play the entire disc from beginning to end or simply dip into it, you should enjoy getting to know Mozart all over again."