Something for Thursday

One of the touchstone works of my life here: Mozart's Sinfonia concertante for solo violin, viola, and small orchestra. The orchestra here consists of nothing but strings, horns, and oboes -- and some of the most magical writing for solo violin and viola in music history. This work is, for me, one of the greatest examples of musical perfection ever composed. It is works like this that make me think that sometimes artists aren't so much creating works of art as breaking through, however briefly, into some other realm where all is light and wonder.

Note that this performance has no conductor, and that the performers all stand throughout.