To put this in perspective, he had been paid fifty ducats by Emperor Joseph II for playing in a competition with Muzio Clementi. The first performances of Die Entfu?hrung aus dem Serail, for example, were a critical and box-office success but earned the composer himself only one hundred ducats. Performing, composing and publishing might all further one’s reputation, and Mozart did all three tirelessly, but they did not necessarily generate income. In 1780 she married Joseph Lange, the painter who was to leave unfinished one of the most famous, and certainly the most poignant, portraits of Mozart.) With a roof over his head, Mozart could pursue a freelance career in Vienna. (Although she turned him down, he went on to compose much wonderful music for Aloysia. Mozart had known the Webers since 1777, when he had fallen in love with their eldest daughter, a coloratura soprano named Aloysia. He was especially unhappy that the now homeless Mozart had taken lodgings in Vienna with the Weber family, of which Leopold was endlessly suspicious. As a respected servant of the court he was embarrassed by his son’s behaviour and possibly jealous of his new-found freedom. His father, Leopold, also a Colloredo employee, was none too pleased for many reasons. During a visit to Vienna in May, 1781, Mozart had, according to his version of events, resigned – or more likely was sacked – from his position as court organist and concertmaster to the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, Hieronymus Colloredo.

The violin sonatas recorded here were composed during a pivotal year for Mozart.

Mozart violin sonata e flat major