Divertimento No. 15 (Mozart) Explained

Divertimento
Subtitle:	No. 15
Composer:	W. A. Mozart
Other Name:	Zweite Lodronische Nachtmusik
Key:	B-flat major
Catalogue:	K. 287
Dedication:	Maria Antonia Lodron
Movements:	6

The Divertimento No. 15 in B-flat major, K. 287, is a divertimento for two horns and strings by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He composed the work in six movements in 1777 for the name day of Countess Maria Antonia Lodron. It is also known as the Lodronische Nachtmusik Nr. 2.

History

Mozart composed the divertimento in 1777 for the name day of Countess Maria Antonia Lodron, a family friend and member of the Salzburg aristocracy. It was first performed on 13 June 1777 at an informal outdoor party.^[1]

Instrumentation

This divertimento is scored for two horns in B-flat and strings.

Movements

The divertimento is structured in six movements:

1. Allegro (in B-flat major and in sonata form)
2. Tema con variazioni (Andante) (theme and 6 variations, where the theme and all the variations are in F major)
3. Menuetto – Trio (in B-flat major and in ternary form, trio in G minor)
4. Adagio (in E-flat major and in sonata form)
5. Menuetto – Trio (in B-flat major and in ternary form, trio in E-flat major)
6. Andante – Allegro molto (in B-flat major, beginning with an introductory instrumental recitative, and in sonata rondo form)

In ballet theatre

In 1952 George Balanchine choreographed for his company New York City Ballet a piece titled Caracole to this music. A few years later, he restaged it for a celebration of Mozart's bicentenary with some changes in score, choreography, costumes and set design as Divertimento No. 15. The ballet was premiered on 31 May 1956 at the American Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rochester . Marc . Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) / Shanghai Mozart Dream . musicweb-international.com . 31 May 2022.