Allegro

This thrilling historical mystery starring Mozart tells of friendship and betrayal, and how music allows us to defy death—from the acclaimed author of Death and the Maiden and The Suicide Museum.

In 1789 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visits the grave of Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig, looking for a sign, a signal, an answer to an enigma that has haunted him since childhood: Was Bach murdered by a famous oculist? And years later, was Handel a victim of the same doctor?

Allegro follows his investigation, from the salons of London to the streets of Paris, recreating an enthralling and turbulent time, full of rogues and brilliant composers, charlatans and presumptuous nobles. Running parallel to this search is the rise of Mozart, his knowledge and fame, his trials and losses.

Playlist for Allegro

PRELUDE
Mozart’s Church Sonata number 1 in E Flat Major.
The Et In Unum Dominum movement of Johan Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

CHAPTER ONE: LONDON.
The first movement (Andante) of Johann Christian Bach’s Sinfonia Concertante in C Major (C361) for Two Violins and Cello Solo.
And later, just the cello solo of the Concerto (in C-Major)
Johann Christian Bach’s Piano Concerto in D Major op. 13: the second movement “con Spirito”.
La Paix movement from Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Mozart’s aria Va del furor pórtate (first chords).
The march from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
Vivaldi’s Mandolin Concerto in C Major (the second movement).
Vivaldi’s La Serennisima the second movement ).
La Paix movement from Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks.
The aria from Handel’s Samson: Total eclipse of the sun-/no sun, no moon/all dark amid the blaze of noon.
The last part of the second movement from Abel’s Sinfonia Concertante in B flat Major for violin, oboe and clarinet.
A JS Bach Prelude for piano, which is imitates the harmony of birdsong.
Mozart’s Sonata in F Major (for piano). The Andante grazioso and the Minuetto.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Art of the Fugue. Conrtapunctus XIV.
​JS Bach’s “Et Incarnatus Est” from the Mass in B Minor (it will be repeated later).
​The adagio from Mozart’s Fantasia For Piano in C Minor.

CHAPTER TWO: PARIS.
Several parts of Mozart’s Paris Symphony (Number 31).
Lully’s Marche pour la cerémonie des Turcs.
First movement from Mozart’s piano sonata in A Minor.
Mozart’s variations in C Major on “Twinkle, twinkle, little star.”
And again Abel’s Sinfonia Concertante in G Major.
The slow Largo Presto movement from Mozart’s Les Petits Riens. And then the Larghetto from the same piece.
Mozart’s Violin Sonata in E-Minor.
The Benedictus from JS Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
​And again the La Paix theme by Handel, from the Music for the Royal Fireworks.
​Again, Mozart’s A Minor Piano Sonata.

EPILOGUE: LEIPZIG.
Benedictus from Mozart’s Mass in C major.
“Non Piu Andrai”, from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
Aria from Mozart’s Don Giovanni: Vivan le femmine, viva il buon vino, sostegno e gloria de l’umanità!, sostegno e gloria de l’umanità!
The aria Deh vieni, non tardar from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
The aria “Chrystal streams in murmurs flowing” from Handel’s oratorio Susanna.
Tempo di Minuet (WKO188) from Abel’s solo music for viola da gamba. If unavailable, the Adagio (WKO189).
Again, JS Bach’s Contrapunctus XIV.
Aria – sung by a tenor (“Deeper and deeper still”), from Handel’s oratorio Jephtha, followed by the chorus: “How dark., O Lord, are thy decrees! /All hid from mortal sight!”.
The aria Io senti dal contento from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
And again the Et Incarnatus Est from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
And again Mozart’s Church Sonata number 1 in E Flat Major.
Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat Major.