Mozart's precocious genius was as a keyboard player and composer, and his father proudly paraded these gifts of his all over Europe; but Wolfgang also played the violin – Leopold's own instrument, for which he had written a tutor that was to become famous – and throughout the years he lived at home he was constantly being urged to devote himself more to whole-heartedly to it and scolded for his lack of commitment. It is significant that after he left Salzburg for Vienna in 1781 he did not touch the violin again, and scarcely wrote further for it as a solo instrument.

Then suddenly, in 1775, at the age of nineteen, he wrote five concertos within the space of nine months. Together with some of the shorter movements for violin and orchestra – two Rondos and an Adagio – they are issued, coupled with the Sixth and Seventh Concertos (of partial, possibly doubtful authenticity). The original 4-LP set is here released internationally, complete on Decca CD for the first time and includes the original LP notes by Lionel Salter.