In September of 1816, Schubert began writing a string trio that he would leave unfinished. All that survives is the first movement, an Allegro, plus the first thirty-nine bars of an Andante sostenuto. The writing reveals a glimmer of the orchestral sound of the great chamber works of the last period, but nevertheless it remains linked to the elegant style of the late 18th century.
Mozart’s Divertimento KV563 requires of both its performers and listeners a commitment equal to that for the great instrumental works. Each of the three musicians must be high-level virtuosos to play their parts, which explore the full register of each instrument in a dialogue intertwined with contributions at the same level from the three participants. The only link with the traditional genre is the high number of movements (six), including two minuets.
