The program takes the listener across a very wide spectrum of Mozart's genius for sound and for instrumental variety. It opens with his next to last string quintet in the rarely used (by him) key of G minor. It is followed by the seldom-performed Masonic Funeral Music in C minor, written to memorialize two esteemed brothers of his lodge. The last piece is the first recorded instance of the renowned Robert Levin performing a Mozart Concerto on the modern grand piano, in the Concerto No. 17 in G major.

This live recording was made during the New York Philomusica's performance of its Mozart Bicentennial Program on December 3, 1991. The performance used a copy of the autograph manuscript and incorporated many facets of authentic 18th century practice, such as the arrangement of instruments on the stage and the improvisations of the pianist.

Robert Levin, a distinguished fortepianist, "plays a modern piano in a fleet, full-dynamics, long-lined account of superb coherence and spirit. Neither spirit nor coherence is the surprise, but the modernity of the whole event, saying a good deal of Levin's active but always pointed improvised embellishments..." says John Wiser of Fanfare Magazine.

Indeed, words cannot describe the joy of knowing the genius of Mozart through the music he composed during his busy, profound, and short visit through mortality. Between the brilliant interpretation and improvisation of Robert Levin and the inspired musicianship of the New York Philomusica ensemble, this recording is one not to miss.

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