On this day – 9 March – in 1785, Mozart completed his Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K.467. Whilst the ink was still wet the parts were being copied for the concerto’s premiere which took place the very next day.

Both Piano Concerto Nos. 20 and 21 were composed for Mozart’s own “Friday subscription concerts” in Vienna’s Melgrube Casino.  Not only did Mozart write the music, perform and conduct the entire 4 – 5 hour programme, but he also organised the concert series – everything from getting sponsors on board, renting the hall, arranging posters and selling tickets.

“When you realize how quickly Mozart developed during the early years of the 1780’s it makes you ask: why did this happen?” says Leif Ove Andsnes.  “What was going on? It’s about the momentum of his creativity at this time.”

Follow Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra this May for the first volume of the Mozart Momentum 1785 / 1786 on Sony Classical. Together they explore the five piano concertos that Mozart wrote during these extraordinary two years, interwoven with his chamber music from the same period.