This wonderful program of Mozart and friends from 18th century Vienna highlights the vibrancy of the music scene in this critical centre for the Arts.
 
Mozart’s quartet K449, dedicated to Hoffmeister, earned Mozart praise at the time for its ‘fire of the imagination’, and is still considered to be one of his finest.
 
An evening out, at on of the 'Viennese salons' or the private homes of a patrons, such as that belonging to the famous patron of Beethoven, Gottfried van Swieten, was the 'to do' thing. It was here that new composers works were often performed for the first time.
 
Mozart’s friend, Hoffmeister, who is featured in this program, became one of Vienna’s most popular and enterprising musicians. Interestingly, as one of the most influential music publishers of the time, he printed works by all of our featured composers. His flute quartet in C minor will make for a stormy start to the evening.
 
Albrechtsberger, a teacher of Beethoven, was influential in Vienna. This underrated composer’s string quartet is an overlooked gem, with a fugue rivalling even those of Haydn’s Op. 20 quartets.
 
Arguably one of the most extraordinary Viennese soirées ever, included Haydn, Mozart, von Dittersdorf and our last featured composer, Vanhal, a prolific Bohemian composer. We end this program with his resplendent flute quintet in B flat major.