Mozart – Flute Quartet in A major

^{Wolfgang Amadé Mozart (1756-1791)}

^{Flute Quartet in A major, K. 298 (1778?/1785?)}

^{Mozart was famously dismissive of the solo flute – he once described it as “an instrument I can’t stand” in a letter to his father – yet he wrote some extraordinarily beautiful music for it. The Flute Quartet in A major is one of these pieces, the last of four works for flute, violin, viola, and cello that Mozart composed beginning in 1778.}

^{The first movement is cast as a theme with four variations. In the manner of Haydn, Mozart gave every instrument a variation in which to shine: for the flute it’s the theme and first variation; the violin gets the somewhat-reserved second variation for its showcase while Mozart pulled out all the figurative stops for the viola’s lyrical third variation. In the final variation, the cello spins out an elaboration of the theme’s accompaniment.}

^{Most Classical quartets feature a minuet and this one is no different, though here it’s almost breathtaking how stiff and regular the music’s phrasings are. The miracle, however, is that it never feels like a stubborn exercise; on the contrary, this concise dance brims with vivid, understated energy.}

^{The finale is lively, too, filled with jaunty spirit and some touching, gently humorous turns.}

^{© Jonathan Blumhofer}

^{Reproduction Rights: This program note may be reproduced free of charge in concert programs with a credit to the author.}