K. 515a

Mouvement pour quintette Ă  cordes en fa majeur (Andante), K. 515a

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Silverpoint drawing of Mozart by Dora Stock, 1789
Mozart, silverpoint by Dora Stock, 1789 — last authenticated portrait

Le Mouvement pour quintette Ă  cordes en fa majeur (K. 515a) de Mozart est un bref Andante inachevĂ© destinĂ© Ă  l’effectif standard du « quintette Ă  deux altos » (2 violons, 2 altos, violoncelle), et associĂ© dans les sources au fragment K. 515c. La Fondation Internationale Mozarteum le date de Vienne, fĂ©vrier 1791 — l’une des derniĂšres annĂ©es de Mozart, oĂč les idĂ©es de musique de chambre apparaissent souvent sous forme d’esquisses ou d’ébauches plutĂŽt que comme des Ɠuvres entiĂšrement achevĂ©es et publiĂ©es [1].

Historique et contexte

Au dĂ©but de 1791, Mozart a 35 ans et vit Ă  Vienne, partagĂ© entre des activitĂ©s pratiques (enseignement, concerts et commandes) et un calendrier de composition de plus en plus contraint. Le K. 515a est datĂ© par la Fondation Internationale Mozarteum de Vienne, fĂ©vrier 1791, et nous est parvenu comme un mouvement inachevĂ©, avec une source autographe conservĂ©e, Ă©galement dĂ©crite dans leur catalogue [1]. Dans le volume consacrĂ© aux quintettes Ă  cordes de la Neue Mozart-Ausgabe, il est regroupĂ© parmi les appendices et fragments, ce qui renforce son statut de vestige annexe plutĂŽt que celui d’un quintette achevĂ© en quatre mouvements [2].

Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

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Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Sylvain Cambreling (cond.) · Michael Haneke (stage) · Teatro Real de Madrid

Film director Michael Haneke stages Così fan tutte for the Teatro Real Madrid. One of opera's most discussed recent productions — contemporary, psychologically sharp.

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Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

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Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (cond.) · Claus Guth (stage) · Wiener Philharmoniker · Anna Netrebko

Harnoncourt conducts Wiener Philharmoniker in Claus Guth's celebrated Salzburg production with Anna Netrebko as Susanna. One of the most acclaimed Figaro productions of the 21st century.

View on Amazon →
Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Book

Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Hans Mersmann (ed)

Affordable Dover edition of Mozart's letters — complete selection, unbeatable price.

View on Amazon →
Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Prime Movie

Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Milos Forman (dir.) · F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

The extended Director's Cut — ~20 minutes longer than theatrical release with additional scenes deepening Mozart's story.

View on Amazon →
Mozart's Sister (2010)

Prime Movie

Mozart's Sister (2010)

René Féret (dir.) · Marie Féret

French biographical drama about Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, a prodigy whose talent was overshadowed by her brother's fame. English subtitled.

View on Amazon →
Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Prime Video

Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Sylvain Cambreling (cond.) · Michael Haneke (stage) · Teatro Real de Madrid

Film director Michael Haneke stages Così fan tutte for the Teatro Real Madrid. One of opera's most discussed recent productions — contemporary, psychologically sharp.

View on Amazon →
Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Prime Video

Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (cond.) · Claus Guth (stage) · Wiener Philharmoniker · Anna Netrebko

Harnoncourt conducts Wiener Philharmoniker in Claus Guth's celebrated Salzburg production with Anna Netrebko as Susanna. One of the most acclaimed Figaro productions of the 21st century.

View on Amazon →
Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Book

Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Hans Mersmann (ed)

Affordable Dover edition of Mozart's letters — complete selection, unbeatable price.

View on Amazon →
Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Prime Movie

Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Milos Forman (dir.) · F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

The extended Director's Cut — ~20 minutes longer than theatrical release with additional scenes deepening Mozart's story.

View on Amazon →
Mozart's Sister (2010)

Prime Movie

Mozart's Sister (2010)

René Féret (dir.) · Marie Féret

French biographical drama about Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, a prodigy whose talent was overshadowed by her brother's fame. English subtitled.

View on Amazon →
Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Prime Video

Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Sylvain Cambreling (cond.) · Michael Haneke (stage) · Teatro Real de Madrid

Film director Michael Haneke stages Così fan tutte for the Teatro Real Madrid. One of opera's most discussed recent productions — contemporary, psychologically sharp.

View on Amazon →
Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Prime Video

Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (cond.) · Claus Guth (stage) · Wiener Philharmoniker · Anna Netrebko

Harnoncourt conducts Wiener Philharmoniker in Claus Guth's celebrated Salzburg production with Anna Netrebko as Susanna. One of the most acclaimed Figaro productions of the 21st century.

View on Amazon →
Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Book

Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Hans Mersmann (ed)

Affordable Dover edition of Mozart's letters — complete selection, unbeatable price.

View on Amazon →
Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Prime Movie

Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Milos Forman (dir.) · F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

The extended Director's Cut — ~20 minutes longer than theatrical release with additional scenes deepening Mozart's story.

View on Amazon →
Mozart's Sister (2010)

Prime Movie

Mozart's Sister (2010)

René Féret (dir.) · Marie Féret

French biographical drama about Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, a prodigy whose talent was overshadowed by her brother's fame. English subtitled.

View on Amazon →
Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Prime Video

Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Sylvain Cambreling (cond.) · Michael Haneke (stage) · Teatro Real de Madrid

Film director Michael Haneke stages Così fan tutte for the Teatro Real Madrid. One of opera's most discussed recent productions — contemporary, psychologically sharp.

View on Amazon →
Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Prime Video

Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (cond.) · Claus Guth (stage) · Wiener Philharmoniker · Anna Netrebko

Harnoncourt conducts Wiener Philharmoniker in Claus Guth's celebrated Salzburg production with Anna Netrebko as Susanna. One of the most acclaimed Figaro productions of the 21st century.

View on Amazon →
Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Book

Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Hans Mersmann (ed)

Affordable Dover edition of Mozart's letters — complete selection, unbeatable price.

View on Amazon →
Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Prime Movie

Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Milos Forman (dir.) · F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

The extended Director's Cut — ~20 minutes longer than theatrical release with additional scenes deepening Mozart's story.

View on Amazon →
Mozart's Sister (2010)

Prime Movie

Mozart's Sister (2010)

René Féret (dir.) · Marie Féret

French biographical drama about Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, a prodigy whose talent was overshadowed by her brother's fame. English subtitled.

View on Amazon →
Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Prime Video

Così fan tutte — Teatro Real Madrid, Michael Haneke (2013)

Sylvain Cambreling (cond.) · Michael Haneke (stage) · Teatro Real de Madrid

Film director Michael Haneke stages Così fan tutte for the Teatro Real Madrid. One of opera's most discussed recent productions — contemporary, psychologically sharp.

View on Amazon →
Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Prime Video

Le Nozze di Figaro — Salzburg 2006, Harnoncourt / Netrebko

Nikolaus Harnoncourt (cond.) · Claus Guth (stage) · Wiener Philharmoniker · Anna Netrebko

Harnoncourt conducts Wiener Philharmoniker in Claus Guth's celebrated Salzburg production with Anna Netrebko as Susanna. One of the most acclaimed Figaro productions of the 21st century.

View on Amazon →
Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Book

Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Dover)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Hans Mersmann (ed)

Affordable Dover edition of Mozart's letters — complete selection, unbeatable price.

View on Amazon →
Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Prime Movie

Amadeus — Director's Cut (1984)

Milos Forman (dir.) · F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce

The extended Director's Cut — ~20 minutes longer than theatrical release with additional scenes deepening Mozart's story.

View on Amazon →
Mozart's Sister (2010)

Prime Movie

Mozart's Sister (2010)

René Féret (dir.) · Marie Féret

French biographical drama about Maria Anna (Nannerl) Mozart, a prodigy whose talent was overshadowed by her brother's fame. English subtitled.

View on Amazon →

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CaractĂšre musical

Ce qui subsiste porte l’indication Andante et est Ă©crit en fa majeur pour cordes : 2 violons, 2 altos et violoncelle [1]. MĂȘme Ă  l’état fragmentaire, le choix d’une tonalitĂ© chaleureuse et centrale, ainsi que d’un tempo modĂ©rĂ©, suggĂšre que Mozart explorait la texture intĂ©rieure typiquement plus dense du quintette (les deux altos permettant une « lueur » harmonique soutenue et un contrepoint de conversation).

Comme le matĂ©riau notĂ© est trĂšs bref (le catalogue des sources signale une seule feuille autographe) [1], il vaut mieux l’entendre non comme un mouvement lent autonome Ă  la forme pleinement articulĂ©e, mais comme un aperçu de l’idiome chambriste tardif de Mozart : une allure lyrique, des voix resserrĂ©es, et une attention Ă  l’égalitĂ© instrumentale qui distinguait depuis longtemps ses quintettes Ă  cordes de la maturitĂ©.

[1] International Mozarteum Foundation (KV Online): work entry for KV 515a — dating (Vienna, Feb. 1791), key, instrumentation, and source notes (autograph leaf).

[2] Digital Mozart Edition (NMA Online): Table of contents for NMA VIII/19/1 (String Quintets), showing KV 515a listed in the appendix as a fragment (*Andante*) in F.