Previously unknown Mozart manuscript discovered in France

A remarkable discovery has been made in France with the unearthing of a previously unknown manuscript by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The 44-page musical notebook dates back to the composer's time in Paris in 1778 and is being hailed as one of the most significant musical finds in recent decades.

For a long time, the manuscript was held anonymously in the music department of the National Library of France, cataloged as an anonymous document from the late 18th century. However, in February 2026, François-Pierre Goua, a curator of musical collections, noticed that parts of the handwriting resembled Mozart's. Subsequent expert analysis confirmed his suspicions.

The notebook includes composition exercises and seven pieces specifically arranged for flute and harp. Researchers believe these materials stem from the daily lessons the 22-year-old Mozart provided between May and July 1778 to his student, Marie-Louise-Philippine de Guînes, the daughter of the Duke de Guînes. This discovery offers the earliest known evidence of Mozart's pedagogical methods in composition.

Six of the flute and harp pieces created during these lessons are fully preserved and could potentially enrich the contemporary concert repertoire. The authorship of many fragments appears to be collaborative, with notations from both teacher and student intertwined. The final exercise remains incomplete, and the last six pages of the notebook are blank, suggesting the lessons may have ceased after Marie-Louise de Guînes' wedding on July 26, 1778.

The newly discovered works are set to receive their world premiere on June 21 in the Oval Hall of the National Library of France, performed by flutist Mathilde Caldérini and harpist Nicolas Tulliez from the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra. A global radio premiere is scheduled for the following day on French radio.