Mozart: Flute Quartets / Barthold Kuijken, Masahiro Arita

Mozart’s four flute quartets, along with his two concertos, are an important repertoire for flute players. However, I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that there is a subtle difference in the quality of the four pieces. The best is undoubtedly No. 1 in D major, K. 285. From the opening Allegro to the second movement Adagio and the final movement Rondo, the work is flawless. Flutists especially like the second movement Adagio. The sad melody of the flute is played on the sempre piano, accompanied by the pizzicato of the strings. By the way, it is a little-known fact that Mozart borrowed the melody of Johann Christian Bach for the melody of the cadenza of this Adagio. The next best piece is probably No. 4 in A major, K. 298. The elegant melody is comparable to the famous Clarinet Quintet. Compared to the above two, No. 2 in G major K. 285a and No. 3 in C major K. Anh. 171 (285b) are a little less satisfying. Both have only two movements and feel a little perfunctory, so it may be said that the level of completion is not so good for Mozart. Perhaps this is because of “composing for instruments that he cannot bear (in the letter to Leopold)”. The CDs of this piece that I would like to recommend are those by Barthold Kuijken and Masahiro Arita. Both are excellent performances that are difficult to choose between. #mozart #flute #quartet #片山俊幸