In Mozart’s time, roughly between 1750 and 1800, the traverse flute underwent some important changes. By the addition of a number of keys and a reconstruction of the body, the head and the keyholes the tone and power of the sound were increased substantially, thus gaining the status of a serious solo instrument.

Mozart seemed to have had a certain aversion to the instrument. When writing the flute quartets he complained: “I soon got tired of writing for the same instrument (which I cannot bear)”. He wrote the flute quartets for the Dutch flutist De Jean, with whom he had a business dispute, and therefore disliked him very much. The quartets however show no trace of chagrin: they are delightful works, sparkling, melodious and vintage Mozart, they firmly hold their place in the standard concert repertoire. • This new recording features the excellent ensemble Solisti della Scala, an Italian elite group. They also play the beautiful Oboe Quartet K370 in the version for flute and strings.