It is hardly imaginable today, but the Viennese public of Mozart’s time was unable to appreciate the beauties of Mozart’s Piano Quartet K. 478. It was not accustomed to the dramatic g minor character – especially of the first movement – coming from this composer. And thus it came about that the publisher Hoffmeister refused to print any further quartets; after K. 478, Mozart wrote only the E flat major Quartet K. 493, although a series of six works had originally been planned. What a pity! Today the two piano quartets rank among the landmarks of Mozartian chamber music and continue to enjoy a great status.

Ernst Herttrich (Editor)

Hans-Martin Theopold (Fingering)

Urtext Edition, paperbound