The first public performance of the recently discovered Mozart manuscript

In a remarkable discovery that has captured the attention of music historians and enthusiasts alike, a previously unknown manuscript attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was recently uncovered in the French National Library. This rare find offers new insight into the young composer's life during his final visit to Paris in 1778, when he was just 22 years old. The manuscript consists of more than ten exercises and seven compositions written for flute and harp, all crafted while Mozart was teaching Marie-Louise-Philippe de Bonnieres de Guines, a talented harpsichordist and daughter of the Duke of Guines, who himself was a noted flautist.

The discovery was made by François-Pierre Goy, a curator at the French National Library’s music department, who stumbled upon the manuscript while reviewing a collection of anonymous manuscripts before his retirement. Goy described the moment as unexpected and astonishing, noting that he had not anticipated finding anything of such historical significance. His initial suspicion about the manuscript came after comparing its musical notation to other known works by Mozart. He observed distinctive features such as violin clefs that were rounded and slightly forward-leaning, and bass clefs drawn in the opposite direction to the typical French style.

Further verification of the manuscript's authenticity came from comparisons with other known Mozart manuscripts, including the use of French paper and specific markings on the pages that matched those found in a French edition of Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto commissioned by the Duke of Guines. The authenticity was confirmed by Armin Brinzing, director of the International Mozarteum Foundation based in Austria, who verified the document in April of this year.

This newly discovered manuscript is part of two volumes of sheet music that were seized during the French Revolution in 1794 from the home of the Duke of Guines. These documents eventually ended up in the archives of the French National Library. Such discoveries of famous composers' manuscripts are extremely rare, according to Mathias Auclair, director of the music section at the French National Library. In 2012, for instance, a similar find occurred in Austria when notes for a piano concerto composed by Mozart at age 11 were discovered during attic renovations.

The significance of this discovery extends beyond the mere addition of another piece to Mozart's repertoire. It provides a glimpse into the period of his life when he was still relatively young and serving as a teacher. According to Gilles Pecout, president of the French National Library, these newly discovered pieces reveal Mozart as a young instructor and offer insights into his last stay in Paris in 1778, a time about which little is known.

As part of the Fête de la Musique celebrations, the first public performance of the newly discovered composition will take place in the French National Library. Flutist Mathilde Calderini and harpist Nicolas Tulliez have been invited to perform the approximately 20-minute piece for an invited audience. The performance will also be broadcasted by French radio, allowing a wider audience to experience this historic moment.

This event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to uncover and preserve Mozart's legacy. With each new discovery, scholars gain deeper understanding of the multifaceted genius behind one of history's most celebrated composers. As the world eagerly awaits the performance, the anticipation underscores the importance of preserving and sharing cultural heritage for future generations.