Mozart: Complete Flute Quartets

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Artists: Andrea Manco (flute),Andrea Pecolo (violin), Joël Impérial (viola), Gianluca Muzzolon (cello) Online purchase and streaming: More information: During the late 18th century, compositions for string trio with a wind instrument were extremely popular in amateur circles; and in keeping with this highly fashionable trend, Mozart composed four quartets for flute and strings while on a tour of France and Germany with his mother. The 22-year-old composer had lately made the acquaintance of a solo flautist, Johann Baptist Wendling, who was in contact with a rich flute-playing patron. A handsome fee was offered for some concertos and quartets – more than Mozart’s annual salary as a court musician back at home in Salzburg – and so he set to work, completing the first quartet, K385, on Christmas Day 1777.