K491 to SW7

Tuesday 8 April 2014

A jewel in the Royal College of Music’s extensive collection of historic manuscripts is being published as a high-quality facsimile by Bärenreiter.

The forthcoming facsimile is of the autograph score of Mozart’s Piano Concerto no 24 in C minor K491, housed in the RCM’s Special Collections. Its preface - which describes the journey made by Mozart’s autograph manuscript following its sale in 1800 by Mozart’s widow to its eventual resting place in London SW7 - is written by Director of the RCM Professor Colin Lawson, and its illuminating commentary by the renowned Mozart scholar and pianist Robert Levin.

The Piano Concerto in C minor is one of Mozart’s greatest Piano Concertos, not least because of its dramatic character (it is one of only two piano concertos he composed in minor keys). It also has the largest orchestra Mozart ever used in a piano concerto and is his only piano concerto to use both oboes and clarinets.  Written in 1786 during a period of almost feverish activity, it was completed only 22 days after the A major concerto K488 and during composition of The Marriage of Figaro. 

Christopher Jackson of Bärenreiter says “The autograph is exceptional in that Mozart records sketches that he later enlarged and extensively revised for the score, thus allowing us an insight into his creative process.  Mozart’s work appears here for the first time in a colour facsimile, making it possible to easily recognise the contrasting colours of ink. [It] truly is a fascinating insight into Mozart’s art of composition.”

The facsimile will be published in May 2014 costing approximately £166, and will be available to buy from the RCM Library. To reserve a copy at the special pre-publication price offer of £150 call Bärenreiter on 01279 828 930 or email info@barenreiter.co.uk.