Mozart’s Lost Sonata Found in Malta’s Archives

In the quiet, sun-dappled rooms of the National Library of Malta, a French curator has made a discovery that’s sent ripples of excitement through the classical music world. Hidden among anonymous manuscripts, she’s unearthed a rare treasure – a previously unknown composition by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

From Malta’s Archives to the World Stage

Dr. Emilie Noulet, a curator from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, was in Malta on a research grant when she stumbled upon the manuscript. “I was going through the library’s collection, looking for anything that might be of interest,” she recalls, sitting in the library’s courtyard, a stone’s throw from Republic Street. “And there it was, tucked away in a folder marked ‘Miscellaneous Scores’.”

The manuscript, dated 1781, contains a sonata for piano and violin, attributed to ‘L. Mozart’. Further investigation revealed that ‘L.’ stood for Lorenzo, Mozart’s given name. The piece, titled ‘Sonata in F Major’, is believed to have been written during Mozart’s Italian tour, when he was just 15 years old.

Malta’s Musical Heritage in the Spotlight

News of the discovery has sparked excitement among local music enthusiasts and historians. “This is a significant find,” says Dr. Joseph Vella Bondin, a Maltese musicologist. “It adds another piece to the puzzle of Mozart’s early career and sheds light on Malta’s musical heritage during that period.”

Malta’s connection to Mozart is not new. The composer visited the island in 1770, at the age of 14, as part of his grand tour of Europe. He performed at the Teatro Manoel in Valletta, leaving a lasting impression on the local nobility. The new sonata, however, predates this visit, offering a unique glimpse into Mozart’s early musical development.

What’s Next for Mozart’s Lost Sonata?

The manuscript will remain at the National Library of Malta, where it will undergo further study and conservation. Dr. Noulet hopes that the sonata will eventually be performed and recorded. “It’s a beautiful piece,” she says, “deserving of a place in the Mozart canon.”

Meanwhile, the library is planning a small exhibition around the discovery, set to open later this year. “We want to share this treasure with the public,” says the library’s director, Dr. Victor Mallia Milanes. “After all, it’s their heritage too.”