When did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart write the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in 179. He was traveling through Europe during that year.
Questions about Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra (Mozart)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What instruments are required to perform the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
The piece requires solo violin and solo viola to share the stage with two oboes and two natural horns alongside strings. The string section includes a divided viola part to create rich harmony while the solo viola part is written in D major instead of E major.
Which recording of the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra does Richard Wigmore consider the best available?
Richard Wigmore selected one recording by Iona Brown and Lars Anders Tomter as the best available. They performed with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra under the Chandos label CHAN9695.
How has the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra been adapted for other ensembles since its creation?
An uncredited arrangement appeared in 1808 published under the title Grande Sestetto Concertante where six players divide all six parts equally among them. Other versions place cello in place of the viola part entirely to keep the work alive across centuries.
Why does the music play during the subway scene in William Styron's 1979 novel Sophie's Choice?
A stranger molests Sophie on the subway during a key scene and she hears the Sinfonia Concertante playing on the radio at that moment. The music brings back memories of her childhood in Kraków and snaps her out of her deep depression.
How did Michael Nyman use the slow movement from the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in Drowning by Numbers?
Michael Nyman adapted the slow movement for Peter Greenaway's film Drowning by Numbers and variations on that second movement appear throughout the soundtrack. The original piece plays after each of the drownings in the screenplay to connect the musical theme directly to the visual narrative.