Mozart’s piano sonatas date from 1773 until 1788 – a period in which his style matured at a truly remarkable rate. The earliest sonatas are very much in the galant style of W.F and CPE Bach, and in places Scarlatti’s influence can be detected. However, the late sonatas, such as K457 are full of surprises, and here the influence of Haydn is to the fore – even predicting Beethoven in passages. The years from 1773 to the late 80s saw the rapid development of the piano from a novelty and experimental instrument, to the stage where it’s power and range provided composers with a hitherto undreamed palate of colours and expression. Mozart exploited the new instruments to maximum effect in his concertos and his sonatas.
Other information:
- Apart from a few examples (K331 being an example with the famous ‘Rondo alla Turca’ finale) Mozart’s piano sonatas have remained the preserve of pianists and have note achieved the popularity of his concertos for the piano, or the chamber works with piano. This set allows the listener to discover and enjoy these wonderful works, with comprehensive notes on each work.
