Florent Albrecht and L’Encyclopédie are performing a concert version of a historical musical duel between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Muzio Clementi. This event, recorded and presented in Metz, offers a unique and enjoyable experience for the audience. In recent years, listeners have become used to hearing Mozart’s concertos performed by large orchestras of 50 or more musicians in grand concert halls. Albrecht’s concert, however, takes a different approach. It is held in the small hall of the Arsenal, a venue with only 300 seats, and features just 26 musicians listed in the program, in addition to the soloist and conductor. Albrecht is known for his expertise with the fortepiano, an early version of the modern piano. This instrument, with its lighter and more delicate sound, does not dominate the orchestra as it might in a larger ensemble. Despite this, the orchestra itself shines in this performance. The balance between strings and winds is carefully maintained, creating a rich and varied sound. The use of period instruments, such as the wooden flute and natural horns, adds color and authenticity to the performance. Unlike some modern conductors who may favor dramatic intensity, Albrecht brings out the subtlety and expressiveness of the music without unnecessary force. As the sole conductor and soloist, Albrecht has limited physical gestures to guide the ensemble, but his presence is clearly felt in the cohesion and energy of the performance. While his fortepiano has a warm, rounded sound that lacks some clarity, the emotional depth of the slow movements and the expressive contrasts in other passages more than compensate for this. The concert program, consisting solely of concertos, is a demanding challenge for the soloist. It also references a famous anecdote from Mozart’s life: a pianistic duel with Clementi in 1781. At the heart of the program is the only surviving concerto by Clementi, written in London around 1789 or 1790. This piece provides an interesting contrast to Mozart’s work. While Mozart is celebrated for his inventive and nuanced style, Clementi’s concerto, though technically skilled, appears more limited in scope and creativity. The finale of Clementi’s concerto is somewhat trivial, and the use of winds is minimal. However, hearing such ordinary music alongside Mozart’s brilliance helps to highlight the exceptional qualities of the latter’s work.