Mozart - Clarinet Quintet, K.581 (1789)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was one of the most influential, popular and prolific composers of the classical period. A child prodigy, from an early age he began composing over 600 works, including some of the most famous pieces of symphonic, chamber, operatic, and choral music.

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Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 (1789)
Dedication: Anton Stadler

1. Allegro (0:00)
2. Larghetto (6:18)
3. Menuetto (12:44)
4. Allegretto con variazioni (18:44)

Wiener Oktett (Alfred Boskovsky - Anton Fietz - Philipp Matheis - Günther Breitenbach - Nikolaus Hübner)
Studio recording, Vienna, X.1963

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, K. 581, was written in 1789 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler. A clarinet quintet is a work for one clarinet and a string quartet. Although originally written for basset clarinet, in contemporary performances it is usually played on a clarinet in A. It was Mozart's only completed clarinet quintet, and is one of the earliest and best-known works written especially for the instrument. It remains to this day one of the most admired of the composer's works. The quintet is sometimes referred to as the Stadler Quintet; Mozart so described it in a letter of April 1790. Mozart also wrote a trio for clarinet, viola and piano for Stadler, the so-called Kegelstatt Trio, in 1786.

Composition and premiere
The composer indicated that the work was finished on 29 September 1789. It received its premiere on 22 December of the same year, in one of the four annual Vienna performances of the Tonkünstler-Societät, an organization that existed to fund pensions for widows and orphans of musicians. The main item on the program was a cantata, Il natale d'Apollo, by Vincenzo Righini; Mozart's work was performed between the two halves of this work. The solo clarinet part was taken by Stadler, the first violin part by Joseph Zistler (1744–1794).

[lanc]

Not only among the greatest of clarinet repertoire, but also one of the best chamber music pieces.

[christopherkeller]

A miracle of music! Time stands still for me in the second movement, music for angels

[peterwatchorn]

Still, for me, the most beautiful version ever recorded. I've known it since it was released on LP in 1964 as DECCA SXL 6087, coupled to the Divertimento K. 247. Sublime playing

[BruceJackson-lxdw]

I first came across this music some 55 y ago in the movie LE BONHEUR. I didn't like the movie, but was rewarded by this sublime work.

[Dylonely]

6 days left. This is beautiful, pure Mozart.

[msfpujm]

This music touches my soul...How beautiful...

[dinonugget]

I was disappointed once I saw it wasn't going to be 5 clarinets

[maksorto]

Ah, a che bello. Grazie per il video, mi piace molto questo quintetto.

[notaire]

Wunderschöne und detaillierte Interpretation dieses perfekt komponierten Quintetts in verschiedenen Tempi mit bezauberndem Ton der Klarinette, seidigen Tönen beider Violinen, mildem Ton der Bratsche und tiefem Ton der Violoncellos. Der zweite Satz klingt besonders schön und echt beruhigend. Im Kontrast klingt der letzte Satz echt lebhaft und auch elegant. Zweifellos eine der zehn besten Interpretationen dieses Meisterwerks im 20. Jahrhundert!

[johnrobinsoniii]

Listen to the first two bars: Doesn’t that pretty melody sound like “The Sidewalks Of New York”?

[johns.]

Great string sound. Mozart's written clarinet articulations would have been better choices. Beautiful German-bore clarinet sound though.