Jane Glover, author of Mozart's Women, introduces us to the composer's mother, sister and wife, and the music that they inspired.
We hear his Symphony No. 31, with Paul McCreesh conducting the West German Radio Symphony. The symphony had a triumphant debut in Paris only two weeks before his mother Maria Anne's death.
Dezso Ranki and Zoltan Kocsis play the Presto from one of the early duets of Mozart and his sister Nannerl, the Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 358. From his road trips, Mozart sent back music for Nannerl to play, including a wacky Modulating Prelude and the Capriccio, K. 395. Harpsichordist Ton Koopman performs.
For his wife Constanze, Mozart wrote the Great C Minor Mass. The Domine and Benedictus are sung by Krisztina Laki, Zsuzsanna Denes, Kurt Equiluz, Robert Holt and the Vienna State Opera Choir, along with Concentus Musicus of Vienna. Nicholas Harnoncourt conducts.
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