BaL 20.11.21 - Mozart: Divertimento in E flat K.563

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am
Building a Library
Roger Parker talks to Andrew McGregor about the wide range of approaches to one of Mozart’s masterpieces, the Divertimento in E flat, K563, from classic recordings from the 60s and 70s to young ensembles’ recent additions to the catalogue.

Available versions:-

Alea Ensemble
Amadeus Quartet
L’Archibudelli
Arnold-Schoenberg-Trio
Augustin Dumay, Gerard Causse, Gary Hoffman
Budapest String Quartet
Jonathan Crow, Douglas McNabney, Matt Haimovitz (SACD)
Dresdner Streichtrio
Christoph Ehrenfellner, Firmian Lermer, Martin Rummel
Joseph Fuchs, Lillian Fuchs, Paul Tortelier
Ensemble Gagliano String Trio *
Gaed Trio
Gerard Jarry, Michel Tournus, Serge Collot
Grumiaux Trio
Grumiaux Trio
Franco Gulli, Bruno Giuranna, Giacinto Caramia
Jascha Heifetz, William Primrose, Emanuel Feuermann
Hermitage String Trio *
Lubotsky Trio
Kehr Trio *
Dénes Kovács, Géza Németh, Ede Banda
Kreisler Trio Wien
Gidon Kremer, Kim Kashkashian, Yo-Yo Ma *
Henning Kraggerud, Lars Anders Tomter, Christoph Richter
Leopold String Trio *
Francesco Manara, Simonide Braconi, Massimo Polidori
Igor Ozim, Rainer Moog, Erling Blöndal Bengtsson
Pasquier Trio *
Benjamin Schmid, Antoine Tamestit, Jan Vogler *
Ssens Trio
Jacques Thibaud String Trio
Trio Echnaton
TrioFenix
Trio Oreade (SACD)
Trio Zimmermann (SACD)
Cecilia Zilliacus, Johanna Persson, Kati Raitinen


(* = download only)

[jayne lee wilson]

The very essence of musical sublimity.....
Is there a greater masterpiece in Mozart, or in the Chamber Musical repertoire?
The profound wit of the title.... far more than merely disingenuous. It often brings this letter of Mozart's to mind:

"As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have formed during the last few years such close relationships with this best and truest friend of mankind that death's image is not only no longer terrifying to me, but is indeed very soothing and consoling, and I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity... of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness. I never lie down at night without reflecting that —- young as I am — I may not live to see another day. Yet no one of all my acquaintances could say that in company I am morose or disgruntled."

Close to my heart, a part of my inner life for decades.....as essential to the Mozartian Soul as the C Major/G Minor String Quintets K515/516, and the D Minor String Quartet K421...

(ps.... I guess this should be for 20/11/21...?)

[mikealdren]

Yes, a masterpiece indeed hidden behind the rather bland name of Divertimento in E flat, perhaps a title or nickname like some of the serenades (Eine Kleine, Posthorn, Grand partita, Haffner etc.) might have raised its profile.

[Beresford]

My first ever request to Radio 3, late sixties, and I had to miss a morning lecture to hear it (last movement). Loved it deeply, so I bought the Grumiaux LP, with the green cover.

[cloughie]

Yes, a masterpiece indeed hidden behind the rather bland name of Divertimento in E flat, perhaps a title or nickname like some of the serenades (Eine Kleine, Posthorn, Grand partita, Haffner etc.) might have raised its profile.

You mean it should be name not just a number! …and Divertimenti come in many sizes - I’m sure that someone wiser than me can tell me why it is called a Divertimento rather than a trio! Yes it is a lovely work.

[gurnemanz]

My first ever request to Radio 3, late sixties, and I had to miss a morning lecture to hear it (last movement). Loved it deeply, so I bought the Grumiaux LP, with the green cover.

The Grumiaux String Trios on Philips Duo was an early CD purchase for me. It was selected by Misha Donat last time it was on BaL - not that long ago in Feb 2013 - with Leopold Trio on Hyperion as "Recommendation with all the repeats".

The other recording I have is the classic 1941 version with Jascha Heifetz, William Primrose & Emanuel Feuermann.

[richardfinegold]

The very essence of musical sublimity.....
Is there a greater masterpiece in Mozart, or in the Chamber Musical repertoire?
The profound wit of the title.... far more than merely disingenuous. It often brings this letter of Mozart's to mind:

"As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have formed during the last few years such close relationships with this best and truest friend of mankind that death's image is not only no longer terrifying to me, but is indeed very soothing and consoling, and I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity... of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness. I never lie down at night without reflecting that —- young as I am — I may not live to see another day. Yet no one of all my acquaintances could say that in company I am morose or disgruntled."

Close to my heart, a part of my inner life for decades.....as essential to the Mozartian Soul as the C Major/G Minor String Quintets K515/516, and the D Minor String Quartet K421...

(ps.... I guess this should be for 20/11/21...?)

I wonder if Bartok had Mozart’s irony in mind when he titled his Divertimento, has has some of his creepiest Night Music

[RichardB]

On the other hand, sometimes giving pieces names brings them a prominence among their unnamed neighbours that might not be justified, as in Haydn string quartets and symphonies. K563 is called a Divertimento because, like many divertimenti, it has more than the usual 3-4 movements of a chamber music piece, although, as a relatively late work compared to Mozart's other divertimenti, its generally serious character puts it in a category of its own.

It doesn't seem to have received much attention from the HIPP fraternity. I remember liking the Archibudelli recording, but I couldn't find it on Qobuz (which, given the vagaries of their search function, doesn't mean it isn't there) - on the other hand I did find one by Trio Ricercar which isn't in EA's list, on the eponymous label and featuring baroque specialists François Fernandez, Ryo Terakado and Rainer Zipperling, which is playing now.

[french frank]

It doesn't seem to have received much attention from the HIPP fraternity.

I have the Smithson Quartet/Trio version with Jaap Schröder, Jaap ter Linden and Judson Griffin, but no longer available, it seems (Amazon has 'one copy left').

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Grumiaux String Trios on Philips Duo was an early CD purchase for me. It was selected by Misha Donat last time it was on BaL - not that long ago in Feb 2013 - with Leopold Trio on Hyperion as "Recommendation with all the repeats".

Are you absolutely certain about the date? I've been headlining these BaLs since 2011, but can't find this one anywhere.

[gurnemanz]

Are you absolutely certain about the date? I've been headlining these BaLs since 2011, but can't find this one anywhere.

Checked again and seems to be correct. Taken from a BaL listing I downloaded a while ago at http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/tr..._1999-2015.pdf

[mikealdren]

looking at the list, did Grumiaux record it twice?

[french frank]

Are you absolutely certain about the date? I've been headlining these BaLs since 2011, but can't find this one anywhere.

Is this the one?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Talking of dates, haven't we all already missed this programme according to the thread title?

[Darloboy]

Are you absolutely certain about the date? I've been headlining these BaLs since 2011, but can't find this one anywhere.

Yep, it certainly is. Misha Donat on 23 February 2013 - another example of lack of imagination on the part of the BaL producers? Given the sheer volume of music composed by Mozart, surely they could have chosen a piece that hadn't been done only 8 years previously? It needn't have been anything obscure, given that Cosi hasn't been covered since 1997 and Figaro hasn't been covered since 2000 (I don't count the programme on DVD versions in 2014).

Prior to 2013, K563 was last covered by Stephen Johnson in November 96. On both occasions the Grumiaux Trio were first choice. Misha Donat also recommended the Leopold Trio as a version including all the repeats. Incidentally, the only other occasion on which K563 has been covered by BaL was in 1987 - Christopher Headington was the presenter. I don't know what he recommended, although it wouldn't surprise me if it was the Grumiaux again.

Turning to neglect of other chamber works by Mozart, surprisingly Eine Kleine Nachtmusik only appears to have been covered once - and that was in 1958. Although given the date, they probably treated it as an orchestral work. The Flute Quartets have only been covered once, in 1990. As have the Piano Trios, in 1992. The only String Quartets that have ever been covered are Nos. 15 (in 2010), 18 (2001), 19 (1982 and 2008) and 23 (2008) - striking that The Hunt Quartet has never been covered. The String Quintets used to come up quite a lot but have been neglected of late. No. 4 was covered on its own in 1960 and 2005; 3 & 4 were covered together in 1988; 5 & 6 were covered together in 1995; all 6 Quintets were featured in 1983. The Kegelstatt Trio hasn't been featured since 1999 and the Oboe Quartet hasn't been covered since 1982.

I'm not saying that K563 doesn't deserve to be covered by the programme - just that BaL would be more interesting as a series if the producers tried to avoid repetition of relatively recent subject-matter.