Mozart’s four flute quartets resemble small concertos in which the flute takes center stage before the strings, as if it were a soloist. However, the intimate character of chamber music is not lost. Everything is transparent, as is always the case with the Austrian composer. It is music that fits in with the gallant spirit of early classicism, albeit with reminiscences of the rococo style of the past. The first and third quartets are brought together here. The latter is incomplete (only two movements) and raises doubts about its authenticity, particularly the Andantino, which consists of variations on a theme that also appears in the Grand Partita. KV 285, on the other hand, was certainly the result of the famous commission he received from a music lover and amateur flutist in 1777, during a stay in the city of Mannheim in search of new opportunities. With the standard three-movement structure, the Rondó that closes this program stands out for its liveliness and dance-like character. In between, we also have the opportunity to attend the world premiere of a work that Sérgio Azevedo composed for this same formation: flute, violin, viola, and cello. One can guess at an imaginary exchange of arguments with historical resonance.
Quartets with Flute
Solistas da Metropolitana
W. A. Mozart Flute Quartet No. 3, KV 285b
Sérgio Azevedo Quartet in C Major (world premiere)
W. A. Mozart Flute Quartet No. 1, KV 285
Nuno Inácio flute
Mariana Moita violin
Sérgio Sousa viola
Ana Cláudia Serrão cello
