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KV 617
Mozart's last chamber music
Adagio and Rondo (KV 617)
for glass armonica, flute, oboe, viola
and cello
250 years ago, the glass armonica was called
the "instrument of gods". At that time, the blind virtuoso, Maria
Eva Theresia Kirchgessner (1769 - 1808), stirred a lot of interest
for that instrument appearing in all major concert halls of Europe.
After hearing the glass armonica together with
Wolfgang in Vienna Leopold Mozart wrote to his wife, "ah, if we
only could have one." 20 years later, May 1791, Mozart composed
an Adagio for glass armonica solo (KV 617a) and the Adagio and Rondo
for glass armonica, flute, oboe, viola and cello for the much celebrated
virtuoso Kirchgessner.
It was his last composition of chamber
music.
 Christa Schönfeldinger
is currently the only professional musician in
Europe and member of the Vienna Glass Armonica Duo
playing the glass armonica. This composition is like a legacy
for her.
The Adagio and Rondo exists in both the original
arrangement and one with string quartet which was already popular
at that time.
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