Relayed from the Queen's Hall, London
Sir HENRY J. WOOD and his
Symphony ORCHESTRA
ELSIE SUDDABY
(Soprano)
ARNOLD TROWELL
(Violoncello)
ETHEL BARTLETT and RAE ROBERTSON
(Pianofortes)
IT is probable that Mozart wrote this work for himself and his sister Maria Anna to play.
She was a clever pianist, and appeared as a child with her brother, in the concerts at which their enterprising father introduced his young prodigies.
ONE of the happiest of Mozart's social qualities was his willingness to write music for his friends. He composed this Concert Air for Nancy Storace (who was the original Susanna in Figaro). and played the pianoforte accompaniment of it at her farewell concert in the winter of 1786-7. (Nancy Storace was the sister of that Stephen Storace who composed a number of English Operas which were produced in London. Part of one of his works, The Cherokee, was broadcast last year.)
The music we are to hear is another setting of the words which Mozart used in his tenth
Concert Air. These were originally intended as part of the Opera Idomenevs. The singer, lamenting that her lover has forgotten her. and feeling that she will die of grief, yet remains fondly true. In begging for heaven's peace for her broken heart, she declares that she will still think lovingly of the faithless one.
THIS is one of the six Concertos for 'Cello that Haydn left. It was written when he held the happy post of Master of Music to Prince Esterhazy, who kept up a magnificent establishment, that was described as only second to Versailles in brilliance and luxury.
The Concerto is crystal-clear and full of lovely melodies.
It is in three quite short Movements, the first genial and bustling, the next flow and sweetly expressive, and the last dancing along in effervescent happiness.
IT is supposed that this. one of Mozart's less-known works, was composed at Salzburg in 1773, in which year the Composer produced a Mass, four Symphonies, six String Quartets and several other things. Its number in the authoritative list of Kochel is 183.
Over most of the work we feel a spirit of seriousness. There is a dramatic air about it-something of that spirit we find in its finest., most mature form, in the great G Minor Symphony, one of the last Mozart wrote. But in 1773 the Composer was only seventeen, and his experience of life was small.