Mozart Piano Concerto 20, K 466 (Ivan Klánský)

Third movement: Allegro assai

Ivan Klánský, Piano
Virtuosi Di Praga, Jiri Belohlavek, Conductor

Recorded Live At The Rittersaal Of Palais Waldstein, 19--20 November 1990

Cadenzas: Ivan Klánský


Mozart, in his autograph of the K. 466, left behind bits of an alternate opening much different than the one we have here. Only the outer string parts are notated, but that's enough to see that it was to begin with a big orchestral tutti, with 32 bars of the rondo melody accompanied by pounding repititions of the motive. Mozart probably kept the bit so he could use it later (a habitual practice of his) perhaps for a future D minor concerto we can only dream about....but we do have the K.466, and very grateful for that--the rheumatic fever complications that most probably hastened his death certainly could have killed him earlier, as could other childhood illness (typhoid, smallpox) he had. Lucky he lived as long as he did.

As is it is now, this Allegro assai starts with a famous example of the "Mannheim rocket", shattering the mood of the preceeding romanze, producing even more a romantic and dramatic theatrical effect beloved by folks in the succeeding decades of musical fashion.

--and about that first performance with no rehearsal: The musicians must have been very good and very familiar with the Mozartean idiom, as Leopold, ever a critical voice on such aspects of his son's work, wrote Mozarts sister that the performance came off splendidly.


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Klavierkonzert Nr. 20 D-Dur KV 466

Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K.466

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