Lost Mozart Piece Premieres in Asia
Lost Mozart Masterpiece Debuts in Shanghai’s Skies
Shanghai Tower Hosts World Premiere of Newly Discovered “Milan Variations”
SHANGHAI - A long-lost piano composition by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart soared to new heights on Monday,echoing through the 119th floor of the Shanghai Tower,China’s tallest skyscraper. Eduard Lanner, director of the Johann Joseph fux Conservatory in Graz, Austria, delivered the world premiere performance of the “Milan Variations,” a piece recently unearthed from obscurity.
“The Shanghai Tower is the tallest skyscraper in China and we believe the performance of this newly found Mozart piece will take the cultural communications and friendship between China and Austria to a new height,” said Yan Ming, secretary of the Communist Party of China Committee at Shanghai Tower.
The “Milan Variations” journey began in the Styrian Provincial Archives in Graz, hidden within the “Lannoy Collection.” For centuries,the manuscript was misattributed to an unknown composer. However, meticulous research by German scientist Carsten Wollin and Austrian music historian Paul Duncan revealed watermarks linking the piece to the late 18th century, placing it firmly within Mozart’s creative period.
“These watermarks now prove that this manuscript should be from the year of 1791 — maybe some years before or some years later, but not later than 1799,” Lanner explained to China Daily.
The discovery suggests a close connection between Mozart and his longtime publisher,Johann Traeg,in Vienna.
“Either Mozart himself gave this piece to Traeg personally, or his wife Constanze,” Lanner said. ”But we think it’s not possible that it’s a fake. Because of the close relationship between Mozart and Traeg, it was impractical for him to publish the variations without the knowledge of Mozart.”
The “Milan Variations” draw inspiration from Mozart’s opera “Ascanio in Alba,” composed in 1771 during his stay in Milan. The opera, a wedding serenata, provides the thematic foundation for the variations.
This rediscovery follows another exciting find earlier this year: a string trio, now known as “Ganz kleine Nachtmusik,” unearthed in the Leipzig Municipal Libraries in Germany and confirmed to be a Mozart composition.
Lanner,who first performed the “Milan Variations” in Graz on October 16th,believes the “Lannoy Collection” holds further musical treasures waiting to be uncovered.
“It was the curiosity of Wollin and Duncan that prompted them to ‘try again, have a look again’ that led to the discovery,” Lanner said.”As ‘scientists are always curious,’ it’s very possible that more discoveries like this could be made in the future.”
Shanghai was chosen for this special performance due to its vibrant cultural scene and passionate audience for classical music.
“Shanghai is a very important cultural city, maybe the most important city here in China and in Asia,” Lanner explained.”It is a perfect place for classical music.You find the perfect audience here: many music lovers, many people who are interested in culture and classical music.”
The “Milan Variations” have been recently published by the German print media Ortus Musikverlag, ensuring this rediscovered masterpiece will continue to enchant audiences worldwide.
Lost Mozart Masterpiece Takes Flight in Shanghai
An Interview with Eduard Lanner
Closer to the Stars, Closer to Mozart: Eduard Lanner, director of the Johann Joseph fux Conservatory in Graz, Austria, chose the breathtaking panorama of the Shanghai Tower’s 119th floor to debut the newly discovered “Milan Variations” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.This unconventional setting, China’s tallest skyscraper, served as a fitting stage for a composition lost to time and now soaring back into the world’s musical consciousness.
Unveiling a Hidden Gem: lanner explained that the “Milan Variations” were unearthed from the “Lannoy Collection” housed in the styrian Provincial Archives in Graz. Originally misattributed to an unknown composer, meticulous research by German scientist Carsten Wollin and Austrian music historian Paul Duncan revealed watermarks linking the piece to the late 18th century – Mozart’s era. Lanner believes these watermarks concretely place the composition’s origin around 1791.
A Composer’s Legacy Revisited: The rediscovery suggests a close tie between Mozart and his longtime publisher, Johann Traeg, in Vienna.Lanner posits either Mozart himself or his wife constanze gave the piece to Traeg directly. “It was impractical for him to publish the variations without the knowledge of Mozart,” Lanner stated.
Echoes of Milan: Mozart’s youthful opera “Ascanio in alba,” composed in Milan in 1771, serves as the thematic bedrock for the “milan Variations.”
Shanghai: A Symphony of Culture: Lanner chose Shanghai as the platform for this world premiere, recognizing the city’s vibrant cultural scene and passionate audience for classical music. “Shanghai is a very importent cultural city, maybe the most important city here in China and in Asia.It is indeed a perfect place for classical music.You find the perfect audience here: many music lovers, many people who are interested in culture and classical music,” he shared.
A Future of Discoveries: Lanner believes the “Lannoy Collection” may hold even more musical treasures waiting to be unearthed.He emphasizes the importance of continued curiosity and meticulous research. “It was the curiosity of wollin and Duncan that prompted them to ‘try again, have a look again’ that led to the discovery.As ‘scientists are always curious,’ it’s very possible that more discoveries like this could be made in the future.”
With the publication of the “Milan Variations” by Ortus Musikverlag, this rediscovered masterpiece will undoubtedly continue to captivate audiences worldwide, its legacy soaring higher than ever before.