Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
On Mozart's anniversary (born Salzburg, 27 January 1756; died Vienna, 5 December 1791) we need only consider the phenomenon that gave this composer such musical power for just 35 years, and then his body gave out to leave a vast treasure house of music, some merely decorative, some of penetrating power and beauty.
A selection of M&V articles about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ensemble. Shining Beauty - The current Italian season of Mozart's 'Idomeneo', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ask Alice - On the benefits of singing, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. Beautifully Expressive - The Isolani Quartet, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Fresh Repertoire - Austin Moorhead's guitar recital, heard by Patric Standford. '... a programme to which it is well worth giving time.'
Ensemble. Splendidly Imaginative - Julian Jacobson and Meng Yang Pan celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year, enjoyed by Mary Isaac
Ensemble. Crisp and Energetic - Ilya Gringolts, Sinfonia Viva and André de Ridder, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Lovely Accounts - Chamber music by Robert Schumann, heard by Howard Smith. '... the performances suffer from a worrying anemia ...'
CD Spotlight. An Exceptional Recording - Mozart's 'Idomeneo', treasured by Patric Standford. '... beautifully paced and crafted ...'
Ensemble. A New Dimension - Giuseppe Pennisi reports that chamber opera is alive and well
Ensemble. Shift of Perspective - The Stanford Quartet plays Mozart, Shostakovich, Borodin and Piazzolla, welcomed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Invigorating Performance - Sinfonia Viva plays Judith Weir, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Discoveries Ahead - Malcolm Miller samples 'The World of Jewish Music' in London
Ask Alice - The most beautiful sound in the world, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. Particularly Effective - Mozart's 'Così fan tutte', heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Style and Drama - Gluck's 'Alceste', heard by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Crystalline Lightness - A Symphony of the Americas concert, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Lively and Spirited - A performance by Haydn Trio Eisenstadt, heard by Rebecca Schmid
CD Spotlight. A Superb Work - Thomas Arne's 'Artaxerxes', heard by Robert Anderson. 'Roy Goodman and his team give their all ...'
CD Spotlight. Irresistible Enjoyment - Music by Mozart and Mendelssohn, heard by Howard Smith. '... a truly idiomatic performance ...'
Ensemble. A Fine Rendition - 'Così fan tutte' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Dark and Serious - Robert Hugill was at English Touring Opera's 'Tolomeo'
DVD Spotlight. Intensity and Concentration - Kurt Masur conducts Richard Strauss, reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz. '... beautifully and confidently performed ...'
Ensemble. Brisk Ebullience - Lawrence Budmen sends a second report from this summer's Tanglewood Festival
CD Spotlight. Impeccable Technique - Beethoven's middle string quartets, heard by Robert Anderson. 'The outer movements induce some grinding of teeth.'
Arts and the Colour of Politics - Béla Hartmann muses on growing social equality and democratization
CD Spotlight. Mozart across Niagara - Peter Hatch's 'Wiki Mozart' delights Jennifer Paull. '... an intoxicating cocktail.'
Ensemble. Expertly Structured - Mike Wheeler was at a song recital by Richard Roddis and Philip Robinson
CD Spotlight. Utterly Absorbing - A sampler from Cedille Records, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... top quality standards.'
Ensemble. Powerful Stuff - Howard Smith was at the last Vector Wellington Orchestra programme engineered by Christine Pearce
CD Spotlight. Perfection of Ensemble - Beethoven's early string quartets, heard by Robert Anderson. '... no excuse for the near-supersonic velocity ...'
Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton
Highly Articulate - American dramatic soprano Christine Brewer talks to Robert Hugill
Ensemble. A Magical Week - Maria Nockin reports from Santa Fe
Ensemble. Especially Successful - Gillian Wills reports from the Australian Fesival of Chamber Music
Balancing Act - Beethoven in E flat, with Julian Jacobson and friends
CD Spotlight. Diversely Experienced - Music for bassoon, harpsichord and double bass, impresses Howard Smith. '... an outright "tour de force".'
CD Spotlight. Faultless Performances - Beethoven from The Nash Ensemble, welcomed by Howard Smith. '... a class of its own.'
A Real Find - Robert Davies made a remarkable impact when he stood in as Papageno late in the run of English Touring Opera's 'The Magic Flute'; Roderic Dunnett profiles him and celebrates the progress of other ETO cast members
Ensemble. An Immensely Successful Event - Thomas Bielinski reports from the West Cork Chamber Music Festival 2009
Ensemble. Another Treat - Martinu's 'Mirandolina' at Garsington Opera, by Roderic Dunnett
Ask Alice - When to put up and shut up, by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. A Poignant Question-mark - Opera North's 'Abduction from the Seraglio', reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Notable Success - Grange Park Opera's 'Norma', reviewed by Robert Hugill
DVD Spotlight. Superlative Music - Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... the flames are formidable ...'
Ensemble. A Dream-Travelogue of Intoxification - David Wilkins attends a concert at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire
Ensemble. Wholly Captivating - Rossini's 'Italian Girl in Algiers' impresses Howard Smith
Life and Other Distractions - Béla Hartmann writes about the relevance of biography to an appreciation of the arts
Ensemble. Sometimes Impressive - Bellini's 'Norma' from English Touring Opera, heard by Robert Hugill
CD Spotlight. Virtuoso Duo - Performances by the Elaris Duo, recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... all the passion, drama and integrity one could want.'
The Composer's Conundrum - Gordon Rumson has some bad news about creativity and self-promotion
Ensemble. Quite a Charmer - 'Alessandro' at the London Handel Festival, reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Fire in its Belly - Lothar Zagrosek conducts the Konzerthausorchester, Berlin, heard by Mike Wheeler
Easy Grace - Martyna Jatkauskaite plays Mozart and Schumann, enjoyed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Crisp and Incisive - English Touring Opera's 'Magic Flute', enjoyed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Winning Freshness - Music by Bach, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, Mozart and Wagner, played by Sinfonia Viva, and heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Fire and Magic - Richard Stoltzman's 'Phoenix in Flight', recommended by Malcolm Tattersall. '... meltingly beautiful ...'
Ensemble. Truly Elegant - Arizona Opera's 'Don Giovanni', appreciated by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Dignity Personified - Apollo's Fire performs 'Dido and Aeneas', enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz
CD Spotlight. Eminently Competitive - Mozart works for clarinet, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... Paul Dean demonstrates his exemplary fluency ...'
Ensemble. Rousing Performance - Mendelssohn, Ravel, Larsen and Tchaikovsky in South Florida, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. A Wonderful Sound - Mozart's Requiem at Canterbury Cathedral, praised by Pippa Hare
Ensemble. Magical eloquence - The first night of Palm Beach Opera's revival of Bellini's 'Norma' provides a night to remember for Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. An Absolute Delight - Maria Nockin finds perfection in Los Angeles Opera's revival of Peter Hall's 1993 production of 'The Magic Flute'
Ensemble. Imaginatively Programmed - Handel arias from the Classical Opera Company, enjoyed by Robert Hugill
CD Spotlight. A Broader Canvas - Chamber music by Sibelius, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... fresh and unfamiliar music, put across with such conviction ...'
Pure Fashion? - Several Composers in Search of an Identity, by Béla Hartmann
Record Box. Admirable Musicianship - Caroline Clemmow and Anthony Goldstone play Chopin and entertain Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Simply Too Long - Mike Wheeler sits through film scores and Christmas music
Ensemble. Grandly Romantic - Vadim Gluzman on stage with the Boca Raton Symphonia, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. A Thrilling Performance - Wagner, Mozart and Schubert from Julian Bliss, Andreas Reiner and the Munich KlangVerwaltung, impresses Mike Wheeler
Seeds of Genius - Alberto Portugheis plays Beethoven at London's Foundling Museum, reviewed by Malcolm Miller
Record Box. Rhapsodic Cello - Music by Bruce Cale, reviewed by Malcolm Tattersall
Ensemble. Quirky Humour - Uri Caine meets Sinfonia Viva, and Mike Wheeler listens
DVD Spotlight. Fictional Hokum - Kevin Sullivan's 'Magic Flute Diaries', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... a "rag-bag" of special effects and Mozartian absurdities ...'
Ensemble. Wonderful Mozart - Bill Newman listens to the Razumovsky Ensemble
Ensemble. Rhythmic Drive - Mike Wheeler listens to The Midas Touch Organ Duo
Ensemble. Sovereign Purity - Bach, Mozart and Beethoven from the Vector Wellington Orchestra, reported by Howard Smith
CD Spotlight. Consummate Mastery - Zeynep Ucbasaran plays Mozart, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... an art of crystalline clarity.'
Ensemble. A Wonderful Experience - Maria Nockin visits Santa Fe for operas by Verdi, Mozart, Britten and Handel, plus the first American performance of Kaija Saariaho's 'Adriana Mater'
CD Spotlight. Virtuoso Credentials - Music for viola and piano by York Bowen, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... above praise.'
DVD Spotlight. Fortunes in Love - Mozart's 'Mitridate', enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... marvellous singing throughout ...'
Ensemble. An Enjoyable Programme - Chamber music at London's Wigmore Hall, reviewed by Bill Newman
Ensemble. Tremendous Energy - Mahler and Mozart in Nottingham, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
An Enviable Technique - Matthew Schellhorn's Wigmore Hall début recital, reviewed by Robert Hugill
Chopin in the Boondocks - Stephen De Pledge returns to New Zealand, by Howard Smith
DVD Spotlight. Spitfire Coloratura - Die Zauberflöte from Covent Garden, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... this admirable DVD is a double first ...'
Ensemble. Wonderfully Inventive - Music and dance on the theme of creation, appreciated by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Faultless Unanimity - A concert by the Roberts Quartet, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
DVD Spotlight. Mozart and Smetana - The Nobilis Trio at Steinway Hall, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... musically pleasurable.'
CD Spotlight. Unrivalled - János Starker plays Bartók, Boccherini, Kodály, Mozart and Leo Weiner, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... instrumental artistry at its finest.'
CD Spotlight. Life-affirming Mozart - Recordings from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's 2006 Festival, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... bold, arresting, re-creative performances ...'
CD Spotlight. Surprisingly Novel - Flute sonatas by the eight-year-old Mozart, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... superb advocacy ...'
Ensemble. A Wonderful Experience - Two productions at Santa Fe Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. An Intellectual Oasis - Lawrence Budmen returns to Tanglewood to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Searing Intensity - Gillian Wills talks to conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing in the context of the recent Mendelssohn Festival in Hobart, Tasmania
Ensemble. Beautifully Judged - Mike Wheeler makes a final visit to the Buxton Festival for Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro'
Ensemble. Brahms and Jazz - Organist Peter Gould joins forces with The Swingle Singers, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Simply Wonderful - Mozart's 'Il re pastore' at Garsington, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett
Ensemble. A Celebratory Feel - Grange Park Opera's 'The Magic Flute', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. A Magnetic Presence - Mozart's 'Figaro' at San Diego Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Majestic Performance - Martino Tirimo's final 2006 Mozart recital, reviewed by Bill Newman
Vociferous and Delectable - Martino Tirimo plays Mozart, reviewed by Bill Newman
DVD Spotlight. Weird Love Tales - Offenbach's 'The Tales of Hoffmann' [listen], reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a cast, orchestra, conductor and stage team fully up to tackling a very demanding project.'
Beethoven's Supremacy - The 2007 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition, reviewed by Julian Jacobson
Hide and Seek - Finding Mozart in his image, by Thomas Larson
Ensemble. Unstoppable Momentum - Masterpieces from the Austro-Germanic symphonic repertoire played by Derby Concert Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. The Power of Music - Performances of 'The Magic Flute' and 'Orfeo' from Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Creative Heritage - Regrets and remedies, the Wigmore way, by Bill Newman
Ensemble. New Meanings? - An evening of subtle brutality, by Karen Haid
Splendidly Sonorous - Sharona Joshua plays a copy of an early piano, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Magical Music Theatre - Patric Standford was at the first night of Opera North's 'The Magic Flute'
Ensemble. Deeply Involving - Emile de Roubaix and the Maraini Quartet play Mozart, Szymanowski and Brahms, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Slav Triumph - Malcolm Troup succumbs to the pzazz of the Burov/Miletic Duo
Ensemble. Incisive Musicianship - 'The Marriage of Figaro' in Arizona, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Lovingly Shaped - André de Ridder and Sinfonia Viva, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Power and Effervescence - Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Simplicity and Directness - Malcolm Miller assesses Opera Project's 'Don Giovanni', currently on tour
DVD Spotlight. Safe Passage? - Mozart's 'Così fan tutte', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a disappointing monument ...'
CD Spotlight. Spontaneity and Immediacy - Martino Tirimo celebrates Mozart's 250th Anniversary, enjoyed by Bill Newman. '... outstanding performances.' [listen]
DVD Spotlight. Much Resonance - Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Ramallah, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... an orchestra of first-class accomplishment.'
Ensemble. A masterclass in performing Mozart - A concert by Stephen Hough, Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra delighted Mike Wheeler
Infallible Beauty - Martino Tirimo's Mozart from Cadogan Hall, reviewed by Bill Newman
Ensemble. A Light Touch - Mozart's 'The Magic Flute', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Tanglewood and Beyond - The sounds of summer in the Berkshires, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Masterly and Musical - An organ recital by Adrian Lucas, appreciated by Tom Corfield
Rhythmic Bounce - Peter Gould at the organ of Derby Cathedral, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Bold and Forthright - Marcus Huxley played at Derby Cathedral, and Mike Wheeler was there
Bubbling Energy - An organ recital by Malcolm Riley, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
A Terrific Introduction - A guide to Mozart's instrumental music, recommended by Ron Bierman
Noble and Moving - An organ recital by Andrew Nethsingha, appreciated by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Sunshine and Stars - The Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2006 continues, and Malcolm Tattersall sends a second report
DVD Spotlight. Cruelty Scorned - Die Entführung aus dem Serail, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a final curtain meriting maximum applause.'
Ensemble. Important Revelations - A gala concert presented by Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Infectious Verve - Maria Nockin was at San Diego Opera's 'The Magic Flute'
Ensemble. Much to Enjoy - The Budapest Symphony Orchestra on tour in the UK, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Pianistic Phenomenon - Malcolm Troup was at Qian Wu's recent London South Bank recital
Ensemble. Powerful Forces - Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms from the Navarra Quartet and Simon Lane, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Energy and Style - A concert by the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Radiantly fresh - Emma Kirkby and the Derby Choral Union, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
DVD Spotlight. Impressively musical - 'La clemenza di Tito' reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... Sylvain Cambreling in sensitive command ...'
Ensemble. Dueling Divas - One-act operas by Mozart and Salieri, reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
Ensemble. Deeply satisfying - A piano recital by Jane Ford, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Mozart viewpoints - Bill Newman reports on the 250th anniversary
Ensemble. Flair and momentum - Malcolm Miller enjoys a highlight of the BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Mozart Quartet Series
Record box. Crisp performance - Michel Dalberto plays Mozart Piano Concertos, reviewed by Patric Standford
Ensemble. Style and concept - Two young pianists of outstanding promise, by Bill Newman
Ensemble. Maturity and insight - Julian Bliss and Sinfonia Viva in Derby, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Class actions? - Alistair Hinton replies to Patric Standford's latest on 'Class acts'
Ensemble. Punchy dynamism - Sinfonia ViVA at Derby's Guildhall, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Incandescent conviction - Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven in Littleover, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Too many words? - Peter Shaffer's play 'Amadeus', reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
Ensemble. Symphonic structure - The Hallé Orchestra plays Vaughan Williams in Derby, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Sensationally STILL - Alexa Still and the NGC Wellington Sinfonia, reviewed by Howard Smith
Record box. Wilby's reconstruction - Daniel Hope plays Mozart, reviewed by Howard Smith
Ensemble. A veritable dynamo - A conversation with Paavo Järvi, and a review of his Miami concert in April, by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Darkness to light - Malcolm Tattersall is at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Ask Alice - On singing in Cardiff, Isserlis playing Saint-Saëns and square Samson, with Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh
Ask Alice - On mini-disc players, Mozart in the jungle and ads for tenors, with Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh
Ensemble. A musical homecoming - New World Symphony alumni return to Miami Beach for a special concert, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Different approaches - Comparing two piano trios on the same day, with Bill Newman
Ensemble. The lady and her entourage - Bill Newman at a concert by the London Chamber Music Group
Ensemble. Winds of change - Malcolm Miller applauds a new work by Richard Dubugnon premièred by the Haffner Wind Ensemble and Min-Jung Kym
Ensemble. Bloch revival - A concert by the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Irreplaceable to music - Tess Crebbin describes the memorial service in Munich for conductor Marcello Viotti
Ensemble. Incandescent Mozart - Lawrence Budmen reviews clarinettist Alexander Fiterstein's concert with the American String Quartet
CD Spotlight. Much to praise - Mozart wind concertos, reviewed by Ron Bierman. 'The performances range from able to among the best.'
Record box. The perceptive oboe - Nancy Ambrose King plays oboe concertos, reviewed by Basil Ramsey
Ensemble. Uniting Europe - A Europamusicale Foundation fundraiser concert given by Andreas Scholl, reviewed by Tess Crebbin
CD Spotlight. Valued archives - Stokowski and the classic Columbias, reviewed by Patric Standford. '... a powerful performance ...'
Ensemble. Mozart and lederhosen - A Bavarian Magic Flute, reviewed by Tess Crebbin
Ensemble. A musical treasure - Aaron Rosand plays Beethoven, appreciated by Lawrence Budmen
The same or not the same? - That is the question. Alistair Hinton responds to Patric Standford's recent provocative essay
Record box. A beautiful luminosity - Mozart for organ and flute in Prague, reviewed by Malcolm Tattersall
Ensemble. Richly sumptuous - The Czech Moravian Virtuosi Orchestra sparkles in novelties from Europe, by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Elected endings - 'Così fan tutte' at Lyric Opera Cleveland, appreciated by Kelly Ferjutz
Mozart matinées - A Salzburg Festival preview, by Tess Crebbin
Ensemble. Ravel chestnut - A dazzling arrangement of 'Bolero' for two pianos, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - Sacrifice
Ensemble. Feather in the cap - Rex Harley reviews a choral concert which took place on Saturday 13 March 2004 in Bristol UK
CD Spotlight. To be savoured - Aubrey Brain plays Bach, Brahms, Glazunov and Mozart, appreciated by David Thompson. '... music making of the highest calibre ...'
Ensemble. Old world charm - Lawrence Budmen listens to the Philharmonia Quartett Berlin playing Brahms, Mozart and Beethoven
CD Spotlight. Appropriate ardency - Juliane Banse and András Schiff perform songs by Debussy and Mozart, reviewed by John Bell Young. '... a smart and authoritative singer ...'
Ensemble. Chamber orchestra charms - Rare Hungarian music, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Record box. Wild folk - Gilles Apap's new Bach and Mozart CD, reviewed by Keith Bramich
Record box. Graceful charm - The Talich Quartet plays Mozart, reviewed by Ron Bierman
Ensemble. Visions of the sublime - Roderic Dunnett on Covent Garden's 'Magic Flute'
Ensemble - Meeting of minds - Stephen Kovacevich and friends play excellent Mozart and Brahms, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller
Ensemble. Compelling musicianship - A recital by Ildikó Iván and Tamás Vásáry, reported by Malcolm Miller
CD Spotlight. Awkward questions - Two Mozart keyboard CDs, reviewed by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Miracle for Bohemia! - 'La clemenza di Tito' at Covent Garden, with Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Female insurgence - Roderic Dunnett visits Garsington Opera for a feast of Mozart, Rossini and rare Janácek
Ensemble. Waiting for Figaro - Bampton Classical Opera at London's St John's Smith Square, enjoyed by David Thompson
CD Spotlight. Two violas - Mozart's String Quintets, reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The playing demonstrates the lovely range of tone colours the team can so readily deploy.'
Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - completions
CD Spotlight. The Maestro - Stokowski conducts Schumann and Haydn, and David Thompson listens. '... he delivers in spades.'
Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - neglected genius
In the news - Roderic Dunnett samples a Garsington speciality (concluded from last week)
Mozart to savour - Alfred Brendel, Sir Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Aldeburgh Festival, by Malcolm Miller
Record box - The ravishing factor. Basil Ramsey spends 131 minutes with Mozart
Record box - Trawling for treasure. Dennis Brain on BBC Legends
Variations - Malcolm Miller attended the Sixth Annual Jacqueline du Pré Concert in London
Planning your collection - Elly Ney, William Primrose and the two Syds
Planning your collection - Global Fascinations and Sophistications - Emma Johnson; Martinu string quartets, with Bill Newman
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