Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622

- Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 -- 5 December 1791)
- Orchestra: Mostly Mozart Orchestra
- Conductor: Gerard Schwarz
- Soloist: David Shifrin
- Year of recording: 1984

Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, written in 1791.

00:00 - I. Allegro
12:32 - II. Adagio
20:32 - III. Rondo. Allegro

Of the works which Mozart composed for the outstanding Viennese clarinetist Anton Stadler (1753-1812), the Clarinet Quintet in A, K.581 (written in 1789), and the present Concerto in A, completed less than two months before the composer's death in 1791, are the crowning achievements. Work on the Concerto was started in 1789. Mozart originally intended the work to be for basset horn, but revised it for clarinet. However, the version widely known today differs from the work Mozart produced for Stadler, since the original version was written for an instrument with an extended bass compass that allowed Stadler to demonstrate his famed ability to play low notes. The transcription for standard clarinet (published ten years after Mozart's death) therefore requires an octave transcription of the notes that cannot be produced on it, which changes the color of the work.

The first performance was given by Stadler on 16 October 1791, not in Vienna, but at his benefit concert in the Prague Theatre. It therefore seems certain that the composer never heard the composition that has become one of his best known. Cast in the usual three movements, the gentle, nostalgic lyricism of much of the Clarinet Concerto has drawn such epithets as "valedictory" and "autumnal," an assessment that downplays the extraordinary vigor and verve of this inspired work.

[dickstephenson]

Can you imagine a world without Mozart?

[samgu]

4:45 - 4:58 Favourite part, with the strings underneath the soloist... Amazing

[ChopinClassics]

18:56 - 18:59 is one of the most beautiful bars of music Mozart wrote imo

[gashousecreek]

Can't get through this without welling up once or twice with the sheer beauty of the writing. Great performance too.

[mrlbr]

I can play the piece myself. Have also listened to countless versions countless times. The clarinet performance here is the best I have ever heard ! Congratulations !!

[cmrmusic]

The suspension at 13:55 creates a minor ninth chord (if analyzed horizontally), and there's another one at 14:05. Love Mozart for getting creative with stuff like that!

[WilfriedBerk]

One of the bests recordings of Clarinet Concerto K.622

[matthewvt]

I love how Mozart uses that simple violin motif for both movements 1 and 2. 7:00 and 12:36

[miguelfontesmeira]

I think I'm convinced this is the most perfect piece of music ever written

[Fumozart]

WOOOWWW!!! The 2nd movement sounds like film scores wouldn't have existed without Mozart. So charming.... so moving....

[lpamnz]

18:32 one of the most beautiful melodies/progressions ever

[chopin]

Thank you for sharing! I had it on while I prepared lunch. It was so lovely. Cheers.

[MustachioMan]

This piece always reminds me why I need to listen to more Mozart

[emiliohernandez]

The clarinet is so versatile! Such robust low notes and graceful high notes! And the dexterity of the technical passages
I wanna be a clarinet player now lol

[MusicShin작곡]

I love the sound of Basset horn. Wide range and broad dynamics

[Salrova]

Otra obra maestra de este genio entre genios. ¡¡Qué maravilla!! Riqueza, expresividad y virtuosismo encumbran la música de Mozart a niveles asombrosos.

[viggo]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful music! 💖💐

[jasonquidoz]

This is really the ultimate classical piece

[marcosPRATA]

Obrigado por mais esse tesouro. É bom ter essa partitura aqui.

[stlouisix]

Beautiful Basset Clarinet - Bravo, Bravissimo!