Mozart: Wind Serenade, KV. 361 "Gran Partita" I Solisti della Scala

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita':
• 1 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': I. Largo, Allegro Molto 09:06
• 2 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': II. Menuetto, Trio I, Trio II 08:57
• 3 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': III. Adagio 05:05
• 4 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': IV. Menuetto (Allegretto), Trio I, Trio II 04:48
• 5 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': V. Romanza (Adagio, Allegro, Adagio) 06:25
• 6 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': Vi. Tema (Andante) Con Variazioni 09:26
• 7 Mozart: Wind Serenade No. 10, KV. 361 'Gran Partita': VII. Rondò (Allegro Molto) 03:20
• Total Runtime 47:07

Info for Mozart: Wind Serenade, KV. 361 "Gran Partita"

There is an air of mystery about Mozart’s Serenade No.10 KV 361: the date, place and occasion of its composition are uncertain, as is the identity of the one who gave it the nickname ‘Gran Partita’. Recent scholarship dates it to Mozart’s early Viennese period, around 1783–4.

Articulated in seven movements, the work belongs to the genre of Harmoniemusik: entertainment music that was in vogue in the second half of the 18th century named for the courtly wind ensemble of pairs of woodwinds plus horns, called Harmonie or Harmonieorchester in German-speaking countries.

The genre featured a few characteristic forms – the Serenades, the Divertimenti, and the Cassations – which could be performed outdoors (due to the instruments’ power of projection) and featured numerous movements like the older dance suites or partitas as opposed to the usual four of symphonies. Serenade No.10 is a special case, however: the instrumentation is enriched by a pair of alto clarinets (basset horns), the number of horns is doubled to two in F and two in low B-flat, and unusually a double bass joins the bassoons creating a more ‘symphonic’ character.

The work’s third movement, an Adagio, is one of the acknowledged masterpieces of Mozart’s art. It is well known to the general public for its inclusion in an unforgettable scene in the film Amadeus where, quoting the beginning of the Adagio, an elderly Antonio Salieri and believes he recognizes ‘the voice of God’ in the entrances of the oboe and clarinet.

I Solisti della Scala

I Solisti della Scala
The I Solisti della Scala Ensemble was founded in 1990 by Maestro Riccardo Muti, the then Music Director of the La Scala Theatre. The ensemble consists of the most prominent soloists of the Teatro alla Scala and the philharmonic orchestra of the same name. Its composition varies. The ensemble performs a repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary music. Since its foundation, it has been a regular participant in La Scala’s chamber music seasons. The ensemble also performs in major concert halls in Italy and abroad, such as Carnegie Hall in New York, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Tonhalle in Zurich, the Suntory Hall in Tokyo, etc. The ensemble’s recordings have been released under such international labels as Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, Warner Classics, Sony, CPO, Amadeus, and Limen Music.

Booklet for Mozart: Wind Serenade, KV. 361 "Gran Partita"