On Monday 22nd May, Hermes members and Mozarteum Hellas members had the unique opportunity to see in an exclusive event Mozart’s Autograph K. 590b.
“For more than 140 years the International Mozarteum Foundation’s mission has been to keep Wolfgang Amadè Mozart’s legacy, making a unique collection of family treasures accessible to the public an spreading the magic of his music among future generations and people of every age and culture. An important part of this work are sustainable partnerships with communities of Mozart-friends around the world, among them Mozarteum Hellas. Against this background I was very pleased to bring one of the foundations treasure, the original autograph of K. 590b, the fragment of a sonata to Athens. Discussing the story behind this fantastic work with the audience has been a true pleasure, especially, as this has been the first time this important piece of Austria’s cultural heritage has traveled abroad.” said Linus Klumpner, Director Mozart-Museums, International Mozarteum Foundation.
Evgenia Votanopoulou, President of Mozarteum Hellas, said: “We were thrilled to welcome for the first time in Greece an autograph of Mozart! On behalf of Mozarteum Hellas I would like to thank Linus Klumpner and the International Mozarteum Foundation for this unforgettable moment.”
Dr Kostas Iatrou, Director General of Hermes – Air Transport Organisation, added “Following the 2019 exclusive presentation of the Costa violin and the special presentation of the Grassi-Medaillon & the Posch-Medallion in 2022 we are honored to welcome K. 590b. We would like to thank Linus Klumpner and the International Mozarteum Foundation for this great moment. Hermes has established a long standing cooperation with International Mozarteum Foundation since 2019. We are really happy that our members had the opportunity to participate in this unique event!”
This manuscript by Wolfgang Amadé Mozart is part of the precious collection of the International Mozarteum Foundation. It is kept in the Autograph Vault of the foundation, and very rarely leaves Salzburg. Composed in Vienna between 1787 and 1789, the work exemplifies one of the com- poser’s most exciting creative periods. In the same years, the great operas of the Da Ponte cycle evolved, which to this day underscore Mozart’s role as an unmistakable genius. K. 590b is one of the works bequeathed to the International Mozarteum Foundation by Mozart’s son, Franz Xaver Wolf- gang Mozart. The fragment of a sonata for piano, written down by Wolfgang Amadé Mozart himself, can be performed today as a complete piece thanks to his son, who later completed the work, and dedicated it to his “dear mother” in 1802 for her name day.