Muriel Cantoreggi: F.X. Mozart

The Strad Issue: August 2025

Description: A refreshing album of music by Mozart’s youngest child

Musicians: Muriel Cantoreggi (violin) Johannes Erkes (viola) Juris Teichmanis (cello) Hansjacob Staemmler (piano)

Works: F.X. Mozart: Piano Quartet op.1; Violin Sonata op.7; Violin Sonata op.15

Catalogue number: CPO 555248-2

Franz Xaver Mozart, like his father, showed his talents early. He wrote his G minor Piano Quartet (officially his opus 1) when he was 13, and a fine piece it is too. The opening is good passionate G minor stuff, with scales flying around, before a move to B flat brings a captivating melody, all played here with suitable emotional heat and charm. Franz Xaver the virtuoso pianist provides a short piano cadenza in the recapitulation.

The second movement is a graceful Adagio in B flat which slips mournfully into the tonic minor, here given an air of mystery, and the final Allegretto is a set of variations on a simple melody. All the players get their turn in the limelight, which they dispatch with warm-hearted distinction and energy. Variation 6 for strings only, in G minor, is played with melancholy expression, and var.7 is a wrong-footing Menuetto, with the theme condensed into triple time.

The Violin Sonata in B flat major op.7, written when Franz Xaver was 15, is a largely melodic work, stylishly played by violinist Muriel Cantoreggi. The Sonata in F major op.15 dates from eight years later. It sounds more expansive, although the movements are shorter, and includes a jaunty Polonaise. Cantoreggi and pianist Hansjacob Staemmler are persuasive advocates for this attractive music. The recording is warm, well balanced and reverberant.

TIM HOMFRAY