Duos Pour Violon Et Alto

Released by the prestigious French label Harmonia Mundi in 1981, this recording features the brothers Régis and Bruno Pasquier performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Duos for Violin and Viola, K. 423 and K. 424. These works were originally composed in 1783 under pressure; legend suggests Mozart wrote them to assist Michael Haydn, who had been commissioned to provide six duos for the Archbishop of Salzburg but found himself unable to finish the set due to illness. Mozart stepped in to complete the final two pieces anonymously, successfully mimicking Haydn’s style to ensure his friend received his full commission.

The recording is noted for the refined, intimate interplay between the brothers, whose long-standing professional partnership brought a rare degree of cohesion to these technically demanding works. Harmonia Mundi, established in the late 1950s, was renowned at the time for its commitment to high-fidelity captures of chamber music and its preference for natural acoustic spaces. The release was well-received by critics of the era for its technical clarity and the warm, balanced tone that became a signature of the label's aesthetic during the early 1980s.