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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Concerto No. 4 for Violin, K.218
Mozart's Concerto No. 4 for violin was written in 1775. He produced his violin concerti not only for others like Brunetti, the Salzburg concertmaster, but also for himself as soloist. Fortunately, before Mozart's interest in performing on the violin waned, he composed five superb violin concerti. In 1777, much to his father Leopald's disappointment, Mozart's interest turned to writing piano concerti. His father reminded him that "you don't even realize how well you play [the violin]." In the violin concerti, he used both the French and Italian styles. The Baroque tradition and the Italian school of violin playing prevailed in Salzburg and were popular in Germany and Austria. Both Violin Concertos No. 4 and No. 5 have similarities to a concerto in D written by Boccherini, published much later in 1924. While visiting Italy, Mozart had the opportunity to hear a performance of the Boccherini concerto, and its construction is very similar to that which Mozart used in his Concerto No. 4.
-- program notes by Laurien Jones