Unpublished Mozart score to be performed for the first time in Paris

A newly discovered manuscript attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been identified as one of the most significant musical finds in recent decades. The document was uncovered in February at the National Library of France (Bibliothèque nationale de France, or BnF) in Paris. It consists of 44 handwritten pages containing seven short compositions for flute and harp, instruments for which Mozart rarely wrote. This discovery marks the first time these pieces will be performed publicly, scheduled for this Sunday during the annual "Fête de la Musique," a celebration of music in Paris featuring free concerts and cultural activities throughout the city.

The manuscript was recognized by François-Pierre Goy, a conservator at the BnF responsible for pre-modern collections. He identified Mozart's handwriting based on specific stylistic elements such as the way he drew brackets, the rounded and forward-curving treble clefs, and the double bars ending with small staff lines above and below. His observations were verified by his colleague Laurence Decobert and later confirmed by Armin Brinzing, director of the Mozart Library at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. According to sources at the BnF, the manuscript had not yet been stamped with the library’s seal or officially cataloged when it was found.

Experts believe the compositions were created during Mozart’s stay in Paris in 1778, where he taught Marie-Louise-Philippine de Bonnières de Guines, daughter of the Duke of Guines. The duke was a powerful nobleman close to Queen Marie Antoinette, who was executed during the French Revolution. Goy proposed that the manuscript likely ended up in the BnF collections due to confiscations during the revolutionary period. Several items belonging to the family of Guines were seized before they fled to England in 1794 during the Reign of Terror.

In a statement, Gilles Pécout, president of the BnF, emphasized the importance of the discovery, stating that it provides insight into Mozart’s final days in Paris and sheds light on his daily life as a young teacher interacting with his student. At the time, Mozart was just 21 years old, already renowned for his extraordinary talent and influence on classical music. His works include masterpieces such as The Magic Flute and the Requiem, both of which have left a lasting legacy in Western music history.

The composition was recorded for the first time earlier this week at the Paris Radio House. However, the public will not hear its notes until Sunday, when it will be performed in the Oval Hall of the BnF as part of the "Fête de la Musique." This annual event celebrates music through numerous free concerts and cultural activities across Paris. The performance of this previously unknown work represents a unique opportunity for audiences to experience a piece of Mozart’s creative output that had remained hidden for centuries.

The discovery highlights the ongoing efforts of institutions like the BnF to uncover historical treasures that provide deeper understanding of composers and their artistic processes. It also underscores the significance of archival research in preserving and revealing aspects of musical heritage that might otherwise remain lost to time. As the world prepares to listen to these long-forgotten melodies, the performance promises to offer a rare glimpse into the personal and professional life of one of history’s greatest musicians.

This event is expected to draw attention from music historians, performers, and enthusiasts alike, as well as generate interest in further exploration of Mozart’s lesser-known works. With the performance set to take place in a prominent venue, the occasion could mark the beginning of renewed scholarly and public engagement with the composer’s complete oeuvre.