A Song for Anne-Sophie

Synopsis

On today’s date in 2001, during the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, the German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter premiered Tango, Song and Dance, a new chamber work for violin and piano. She had commissioned the work from Andre Previn several years earlier, but its premiere was delayed as Mutter embarked on a project to perform and record all Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas.

“After doing all those stern [Beethoven] recitals, I wanted to play pieces which reflected the basis of musical history, the folksongs and dances which has inspired composers through so many centuries. Tango, Song and Dance is both modern and old-fashioned, and it touches the heart, especially the slow movement, which is really a Song Without Words,” said Mutter.

And that wasn’t the only thing to touch her heart. It was around this time that Previn and Mutter became husband and wife. For his part, Andre said, “I have one piece of advice to composers for the violin — make sure Anne-Sophie premieres your piece. Then you’re home and dry, and everything works!”

Other composers seem to agree, and Krzysztof Penderecki, Witold Lutoslawski, Henri Dutilleux, Wolfgang Rihm and John Williams have all written violin works for Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Music Played in Today's Program

Andre Previn (1929-2019): Tango Song and Dance III. Dance; Lambert Okis, piano; Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; DG 8143