DG celebrates rediscovery of early Mozart Serenade “A Very Little Night Music” with three world premiere releases

Berlin, Monday 7 October 2024 – Deutsche Grammophon celebrates the rediscovery of an early Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart work by digitally releasing three world premiere recordings, each a different version of the 12-minute composition.

Referred to as “A Very Little Night Music”, the Serenade in C K 648 for two violins and bass is a previously unknown piece of music that was discovered by researchers of the International Mozarteum Foundation in the Carl Ferdinand Becker collection of the Municipal Music Library in Leipzig, Germany, while compiling the latest edition of the Köchel catalogue, the authoritative survey of Mozart’s oeuvre. Composed by Mozart when he was in his early teens, the piece dates back to the mid to late 1760s and consists of seven miniature movements for string trio. It was introduced to the public on 19 September 2024 by the International Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg which oversaw the research and authentification under the direction of Dr. Ulrich Leisinger.

Deutsche Grammophon is proud to present three studio recordings of this work as world premiere releases. As the reception of Mozart’s Serenade in C K 648 by the music community and audience is still at an early stage, the juxtaposition of the versions invites comparison and dialogue as well as inspiration for hundreds of interpretations that are yet to come on live concert stages and in recording studios alike. The global release date across all digital platforms will be on 11 October 2024 for the two chamber versions and on 18 October 2024 for the orchestra version.

The arguably most authentic rendition has been realized in the Viennese Hall of the International Mozarteum Foundation by Leonhard Baumgartner, Margarita Pochebut (violins), Svenja Dose (double bass) and Oscar Jockel (harpsichord). Both already sought-after violinists are still in their teenage years – like Mozart when he composed and performed the work for his sister – and the ensemble decided to collaborate with bass and harpsichord in the continuo section. This project was realized with the kind support of the Stretton Society. In parallel to the high-end audio recording, Deutsche Grammophon produced a performance video which will be premiered on 12 October 2024 on STAGE+ as a promotional free transmission, preceding the Mozart recital broadcast of celebrated pianist Grigory Sokolov.

An equally notable chamber recording was realized by Unitel with the ensemble that gave the first live performance of the rediscovered work in Salzburg on 19 September 2024 in the context of the presentation of the new Köchel catalogue, featuring Haruna Shinoyama, Neža Klinar (violins), Philipp Comploi (cello) and Florian Birsak (cembalo). This version was pre-released already this past Friday, 4 October 2024, on Apple Music and Apple Music Classical.

How quickly the adoption and evolution of Mozart’s early work has progressed, is exemplified by a recording in the city of Leipzig where the manuscript of “A Very Little Night Music” was rediscovered. When an unprecedented wave of public interest way beyond Leipzig and Salzburg ensued, the renowned Gewandhausorchester Leipzig decided at short notice to devote a portion of their already scheduled sessions with their former music director and honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt to recording the Serenade in C. The orchestra version mirrors the evolution of Mozart’s famous Serenade in G “A Little Night Music” (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) which was originally conceived for chamber ensemble as well, but is today even more commonly known in a string orchestra version.

Rainer Heneis, CEO International Mozarteum Foundation, says: “The huge amount of attention that the publication of the new Mozart piece has attracted worldwide shows the unbroken fascination with the greatest composer of all time. Thanks to the outstanding work of our colleagues at the scientific competence centre, this newly discovered composition could be verified as part of their ongoing research on the new Köchel catalogue. The current world premiere recordings of the different interpretations of the Serenade in C KV 648 by Deutsche Grammophon are a great step towards quickly establishing ‘Ganz Kleine Nachtmusik’ in the standard repertoire of the music industry for longevity.”

Conductor Herbert Blomstedt says: “It is an unexpected gift that at the age of 97 was able to take on the first recording of an early work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The fact that the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig was the most compelling musical partner for this is because I have a long history and close partnership with the orchestra and because the Mozart manuscript was discovered in Leipzig. Performing it symphonically with a choral string section instead of using a pure chamber music setup with individual violins and bass required some thought, but in the end, it led to a very convincing result. Ultimately, we are following in the tradition of the sister serenade ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’, which has also established itself as a symphonic work. We are pleased to have provided a small initial impetus for what will surely become a long history of interpretations for Mozart’s Serenade in C K. 648.”

Prof. Andreas Schulz, General Director, Gewandhausorchester says: “The discovery of the Mozart Serenade in the Carl Ferdinand Becker Collection shows once again how important Leipzig is and always has been for music. The musician, publisher and scholar C.F. Becker was only able to integrate this valuable transcription into his library on the basis of this enormous radiance of Leipzig as a city of music.  We are very proud that the Gewandhausorchester, under the direction of our honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt, has premiered a chamber orchestra version of this newly discovered work.”

Dr. Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon, says: “Deutsche Grammophon recordings have always been influential in establishing references and encouraging performances of newly composed or rediscovered musical works. In this respect, we feel privileged to release a set of world premiere recordings of Mozart’s so-called “A Very Little Night Music”, in close collaboration with our partners International Mozarteum Foundation, The Stretton Society, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Unitel, to whom I would like to extend heartfelt thanks. From teenage talent as vibrant as Leonhard Baumgartner and Margarita Pochebut to musical icons such as Herbert Blomstedt at age 97, the passion of all musicians and partners involved has been phenomenal and a fitting tribute to Mozart’s genius, which is already palpable in this early work.”

About Mozarteum

The International Mozarteum Foundation is a non-profit organization whose primary focus has been the life and œuvre of Wolfgang Amadé Mozart. The organisation offers concerts, maintains the Mozart museums and supports academic research. These three core areas seek not only to preserve and foster tradition but to be open to changing perspectives and consider new approaches when encountering the works of Mozart. The association was founded in 1880 by citizens of the city of Salzburg as the ‘International Mozarteum Foundation’ and is rooted in the Cathedral Music Association and Mozarteum that dates from 1841.  Mozart’s widow, Constanze, who lived in Salzburg from 1824, as well as the two sons Carl Thomas and Franz Xaver Wolfgang, donated the majority of his personal belongings and memorabilia to the association.  The International Mozarteum Foundation thus owns the largest collection worldwide of original letters, portraits and instruments of the Mozart Family. The International Mozarteum Foundation is the leading international institution for preserving and disseminating this invaluable cultural heritage, and presents the very many different facets of Mozart to the world.

About The Stretton Society e.V.

„The Stretton Society is becoming the most valuable ecosystem in the world of classical music.” Yamen Saadi, 1st Concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic

Since its founding in 2021 the Stretton Society has evolved into an international network

of philanthropists with industry and cultural leadership backgrounds committed to supporting selected world-class musicians through various forward-thinking platforms: Co-initiated and orchestrated by the Stretton Violins GmbH its main mission is to grant extraordinary artists access to rare and exquisite stringed instruments by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ and other important violin makers. The Stretton Society addresses this issue by facilitating connections between patrons and artists: patrons acquire these instruments, becoming their owners, and offer them to artists on a free loan. In doing so, patrons play a vital role in nurturing, promoting, and supporting artists and their careers.In addition, the Stretton Society supports young musicians with outstanding talents through scholarships, mindful coaching of their careers and dedicated mentorships. Through this program, promising talents receive financial assistance to participate in masterclasses with world-famous artists. The Stretton Society preserves and projects culture and heritage into the future by joining the most successful artists with rising talents and presenting classical music to an inspired audience. Members and guests are invited to be part of every aspect of support, experiencing unplugged musical moments and in-depth conversations with Stretton’s protégées in a globally unique and private atmosphere at our Stretton concerts and festivals.

About Leonhard Baumgartner (violin 1)

“Leonhard Baumgartner is a charismatic violinist of rare and exceptional
 talent with a maturity beyond his years.”
Prof. Dora Schwarzberg, University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Leonhard Baumgartner, born 2007 in Vienna, has won prizes at renowned competitions, including the 1st Prize and Spezial Prize at The Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition, and the 1st Prize at the Zhuhai International Mozart Competition in 2022, and in 2023 the Discovery Award of the International Classical Music Awards. In August 2024 Leo won the Eurovision Young Musicians Competition, debuting with Norwegian Radio Orchestra under the baton of Eivind Aadland. He made his debut with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in the Wiener Konzerthaus at the age of 15.

Leonhard studies with Dora Schwarzberg at the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, with Ingolf Turban at the University for Music and Theatre Munich. He plays as a soloist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the NFM Philharmonic Wroclaw, and the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra among other renowned orchestras. Leo is a scholar of Music Academy Liechtenstein, and he has been an invitee of the Chamber Music Connects the World Festival at Kronberg, where he performed with Gidon Kremer. He took part in inspiring masterclasses with great musicians such as Leonidas Kavakos, Ana Chumachenco and David Frühwirth, among others.

Leonhard’s studies are supported by the Nina Gscheider & Florian Schwarz Scholarship of the Stretton Society.
Leonhard plays a violin by Antonio Stradivari, “ex Petherick” (Cremona, 1683). The loan was made possible by a member of the Stretton Society.

About Margarita Pochebut (violin 2)

Margarita is an exceptional young Ukrainian violinist. At just seven years old, Margarita attracted international attention when she won the Yelman Grand Prix at the International Violin Competition and the Musical Olympics “Voice of the Country” in 2017.

In 2018 she was successful with 1st prizes at the 6th International Violin Competition in Prague, the 22nd International Competition Bohdan Warchal “Talents for Europe”, and in 2019 at the 25thInternational Young Virtuoso Competition in Zagreb. She won 2nd prize at the 10th Louis Spohr International Competition for Young Violinists in 2022.

Since Margarita was six years old, she has been touring with prestigious orchestras and playing in renowned concert halls in Ukraine, Italy, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in addition to her ongoing musical education.

Margarita’s studies are sponsored by Dream Finance OÜ and supported by the Karsten Kretzschmar and Jan C. Maier Scholarship of the Stretton Society.

Margarita plays an exceptional violin by Lorenzo Storioni, Cremona 1784, a loan by a member of the Stretton Society.

About Svenja Dose (double bass)

Svenja Dose was born in Kaltenkirchen, Schleswig-Holstein, and began taking double bass lessons there at the age of 12. Later, she became a pre-college student at the Lübeck University of Music and is currently studying at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin. There she receives her lessons from Michael Karg. Early on, she gained extensive orchestral experience with several renowned youth orchestras and in the orchestra academy of the Lübeck Theatre. Various projects have taken her across Germany, Europe, China and the USA. Additionally, she participated in masterclasses with Dorin Marc and Janne Saksala and performed as a soloist with the Baden- Baden Philharmonic. She also gained chamber music experiences in contexts such as the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival and Musethica Germany. After being an academist in the orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin for two years, she is now a scholarship holder in the Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker, where she is teached by Prof. Esko Laine.

About Oscar Jockel (harpsichord)

Oscar Jockel received his first musical education with the Regensburger Domspatzen under Domkapellmeister Roland Büchner and studied at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg (Diploma, Bachelor and Master) composition and harpsichord with Achim Bornhöft and conducting and harpsichord with Reinhard Goebel (Early Music), Bruno Weil (Romantic and Opera), Johannes Kalitzke (New Music), Herbert Böck and Karl Kamper (Choral Conducting) as well as music theory (Bachelor) and composition with Klaus Lang at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz. From 2022–2024 Oscar Jockel was assistant conductor with the Berliner Philharmoniker for Kirill Petrenko and conducting fellow of the Karajan Academy for two years, receiving the “Siemens Conductors Scholarship” as a winner of the conducting competition at the Philharmonie Berlin in October 2021. In addition to assisting the chief conductor in concert and opera, the duties also include conducting his own concert projects together with the academy members of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Also in 2021, Oscar Jockel obtained a position as assistant conductor at the Philharmonie de Paris with the Ensemble Intercontemporain and its director Matthias Pintscher.

Oscar Jockel received the Herbert von Karajan Award for his work to date as a composer and conductor, which was presented to him at the 2023 Salzburg Easter Festival. The previous prize winners were the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden (2022), Hilary Hahn (2021), Janine Jansen (2020), Mariss Jansons (2019), Sol Gabetta (2018) and Daniil Trifonov (2017).

About Apple Music Classical

Apple Music Classical is the standalone music streaming app that gives classical music lovers and musicians: the optimal streaming experience by making it easier to find any recording in the world’s largest classical music catalogue with search built for classical in 11 languages; the ability to enjoy the highest audio quality available, including high resolution lossless, and experience many classical favourites in a whole new way with immersive spatial audio. Expertly curated playlists, insightful composer biographies and descriptions of thousands of works, and so much more are available for subscribers to browse. Apple Music Classical is partnering with many of the world’s leading venues, opera companies and orchestras to offer Apple Music Classical listeners new and exclusive content and recordings, many in spatial audio. Apple Music subscribers can enjoy Apple Music Classical at no additional cost. For more information, www.apple.com/music and #AppleClassicalTop100.