A piece that Mozart composed before he turned 13 sees the light

The headquarters of Universal Music México was the center of a historic event in classical music: the presentation of the orchestral version of the Serenade in C K 648 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), recently discovered in the Municipal Music Library of Leipzig.

This discovery was possible thanks to the hard work of researchers from the International Mozarteum Foundation, who, when compiling the latest edition of the catalog Kochel, They found this hidden gem, which dates back over 250 years.

The work, now known as A Very Little Night Music, was created by Mozart when he was between 10 and 13 years old and is further testimony to his precocious genius.

Elisa Schmelkes, music researcher and composer, led a listening session attended by media representatives.

In his introduction, he shared his amazement and excitement at this discovery, noting that This work (12 minutes) has seven movements that are miniature and appear to have been written in the second half of the 1760s. It is impressive to think that Mozart was in that stage of his life when he composed it.

This observation set the tone of the meeting, where the fascination with the young prodigy became intertwined with the history of classical music.

“Classical music is a world of greatest hits, in which we repeat the same pieces that have enchanted viewers since their premiere. But sometimes discoveries like this remind us that there are still treasures to be found,” Schmelkes said.

There are new things under the sun, like this world premiere of Mozart. His music is a ray of light, full of joy; All of us who have heard his works have an intimate relationship with him.

The serenade for two violins and bass, according to the musical researcher, It is a treasure that brings with it the freshness of a young Mozartwhose creations always reflected his light and jovial character, in contrast to the sadness of other authors.

Schmelkes also reflected on the power of music to connect people across time and cultures.

Music has the capacity to be a heart-to-heart dialogue between composer, performer and listener.he stressed.

“In dark times, Mozart’s music can be a ray of light, a reminder of joy and hope. For many, his works become a refuge, like The Marriage of Figaro “piece that has the power to elevate the spirit and bring instant happiness.”

The manuscript of the Serenade in C was found in the Carl Ferdinand Becker collection during catalog research Kochel. Schmelkes explained that “the effort to record it allows us to understand what it sounded like in Mozart’s mind.

The modern performance, performed by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by the revered Herbert Blomstedt, provides a rare insight into the musical development of the Salzburg genius.

Deutsche Grammophon released two chamber music versions of the serenade on October 11, performed by leading musicians.

As part of the session organized by Universal Music Mexico, attendees enjoyed a video produced by the International Foundation, in which Leonhard Baumgartner and Margarita Pochebut (violins), Svenja Dose (double bass) and Oscar Jockel (harpsichord) offer a youthful performance , in perfect harmony with the spirit with which Mozart would have composed the work.

The sound tracks, as well as video fragments, are found on the website: https://n9.cl/xj2du.

Elisa Schmelkes added that “this discovery is more than a historical curiosity; It is a reminder that genius can manifest from an early age. Although not one of Mozart’s masterpieces, it reflects his distinctive language and voice.

“Contrary to the tormented image of other great composers, such as Beethoven, who dealt with his demons, Mozart was characterized by his joy and his ability to connect with listeners through his music.

Recent research revealed that Nannerl, a prodigious pianist and composer, preserved the score of this chamber work. It is believed that, after her brother’s death, she gave it to the composer Ferdinand Becker to transcribe it and keep it in his catalogue.