AURELIA VIȘOVAN - Mozart vs Clementi – Re-Imagining a Legendary Piano Duel
Abstract
The encounter between Mozart and Clementi in 1781 sparked interest among musicians and music lovers which has continued for centuries. In this article I consider the effect of my recreation of this supposed duel, a solo fortepiano recital conceived as an imaginary contest between the two composers. The programme alternates between their works, and verbal explanations in between pieces add colour. The chosen repertoire was based on information from available sources, supplemented in a way that ensures a lively experience for today's audiences. In addition to the purpose of entertainment, we used this type of programming to highlight the ways in which the two great composers influenced each other during and after their meeting, and how this meeting shaped their future paths. The article examines the idea of music competition and its history, the effect it has had and continues to have on audiences, and the reaction contemporary listeners have to such programming ideas. I have tried to present the essential differences between musicianship then and now, and to make some considerations about what should be changed in music education today.
Keywords
Mozart, Clementi, Duel, Recital, Improvisation