Sir, - I was disappointed on reading Raymond Deane's recent article (February 22nd, "Music for the middle classes") on Mozart. Regularity, yes; cadential formulae, yes - these are in keeping with classical structure and style. But Mr Deane seemingly considers only a fraction of Mozart's output to be of genuine artistic worth.
Admittedly, Mozart had to "keep the pot boiling", but "tiny proportion"? The exquisite piano concerti? Many of the sonatas? The precision of that glorious arpeggio figure in Konigin der Nacht from The Magic Flute? Come on, now!
It was Sean O Riada's love for the G minor String Quintet (KV 516) which introduced me to European music initially, and certainly "hooked" me on Mozart. Later, Dr Bridget Doolan (the renowned piano teacher) nurtured in my thinking the seeds which Sean had sown.
Sean also used to claim that the wont of the dilettante was to listen to his Mozart at a lazily low level. Mr Deane might be well advised to turn his Mozart up. - Yours etc.,
An Coillin, Carna, Co. na Gaillimhe.