A native of Bohemia, Leopold Koželuch made his name in Vienna, a thriving musical centre dubbed ‘the land of the Clavier’ by Mozart. the sonatas in this volume all appeared in 1784, meeting the challenge of Mozart’s popularity head-on. Koželuch was singularly adept at producing what was considered the ideal fortepiano sonata of the time, his high reputation making him an influential supporter of a new instrument capable of accommodating ‘the clarity, the delicacy, the light and shade he demanded in music’.
This recording was made on period instruments: Fortepiano by Thomas and Barbara Wolf (USA), after Anton Walter (c. 1795) (Sonatas Nos. 17–19); Fortepiano by Paul Downie (NZ), after Anton Walter (c. 1795) (Sonata No. 20)
Tracklist
Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 15, No. 2, P. XII:18 (1785) (00:17:59 ) 1 I. Allegro (00:08:29) 2 II. Poco adagio (00:04:28) 3 III. Presto (00:05:02)
Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 15, No. 3, P. XII:19 (1785) (00:20:05 ) 4 I. Andante con variazioni (00:13:56) 5 II. Allegro molto (00:06:10)
Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 17, No. 1, P. XII:20 (1785) (00:18:42 ) 6 I. Largo - * (00:04:04) 7 II. Allegro agitato * (00:08:08) 8 III. Finale: Allegretto * (00:06:32)
Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 17, No. 2, P. XII:21 (1785) (00:18:24 ) 9 I. Allegro molto * (00:08:09) 10 II. Adagio * (00:06:36) 11 III. Allegro molto * (00:03:47)
