Even while I’m immersed in the Gaoluo New Year’s rituals and Persian chamber music, the luminous slow movement of Mozart’s D major Divertimento suddenly comes to mind—here’s the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra with Ton Koopman, always a good choice: *

Written in Salzburg when Mozart was 16, doubtless still basking in his recent tours of Italy, it’s just as delightful to play as to listen to. For me it recalls a US tour twenty-some years ago with Andrew Manze (not the same tour as when he incapacitated me with the Finnish loo story, I think)—wholefood supermarkets on the highway, small-town bookstores, blues bars. Whatever the mundane challenges of negotiating airports, motels, and Life, this oasis of radiant tranquillity was always there to revive our spirits. Gems like this remind us to just Be in the Moment, embodying the effortless grace of sprezzatura and wuwei [Another Pseuds’ Corner entry, bravo!—Ed.] [Oh come on, gimme a break—SJ], in a way that no-one but Mozart can do (cf. the moving scene in Amadeus)—remote from Beethoven’s bludgeonings.

Good to add to my Mozart series—now also with a playlist on my YouTube channel!

* For their Bach, see e.g. here and here.