ABSTRACT
Leopold Mozart and his son spoke frequently of Expression und Gusto, words that are usually translated into English as “feeling and taste.” But in the eighteenth century both of these Italian words, espressione and gusto, had a somewhat broader meaning and evoked more connotations than they do for us. Individual understanding of what it means to perform with the proper expression and taste, however, has always differed considerably among musicians. Mozart initially gained his reputation and fame as a surprisingly gifted child, but later he was an outstanding pianist and enjoyed great success with the public as a composer, and his unique expression as a performer on the piano was praised. Mozart said in his treatise about rubato that it is “more easily shown than described,” and this can also be said—even more so—of expression or feeling, a very broad term that defies rational formulation.
