The 3 divertimenti, KV 136-138
were written in Salzburg in 1772 when Mozart was 16. He had
already written a number of operas and certainly all three
divertimenti have a strong operatic flavour They
appear to have been written in preparation for his Italian journey
and the premiere of his opera Lucio Silla..
The joyful D major
divertimento's 1st movement contains a wonderful Turkish style
passage for 2nd violins, accompanied by pizzicati in the violas,
celli and bassi, while 1st violins comment with their own melody
line. The 2nd movement contains beautiful parlando passages
following the short and delicate middle section. The final
presto's lively 1st violin theme is commented on by the violas
with an almost Cherubino style character. The 2nd half of the
movement in canonic style is ended by an abrupt tutti chord after
which a laughing lone 5 notes from the violas introduce the
reprise.
Divertimento in B
flat Major has an unusual structure
opening with a slow movement followed by a middle movement
"Allegro di molto" and the last movement which is a
minuet. This suggests that Mozart had recently become acquainted
with the work of Giovanni Battista Sammartini whose quartets used
the structure of a slow movement followed by two quick movements.
Divertimento in F
Major
has been
described by Alfred Einstein as “absolutely symphonic”. There
is a joyful opening full of youthful verve, containing a
relentless and sometimes furious bass line. The second movement
opens with a beautiful and ecstatic first violin melody
accompanied by a flowing passage in the second violins. The last
movement is an energetic rondo with a set of variations played
twice. Today’s original performance purists argue that Mozart
may have intended some of these divertimenti to be performed by
string quartet. We therefore present our warm compliments to them
with a doublebass solo in the third variation.
