When was Mozart's Clarinet Concerto K. 622 completed?
Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, was completed in October 1791, a few weeks before his death. It was his second to last finished work.
Questions about Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was the Clarinet Concerto written for?
Mozart wrote the concerto for Anton Stadler, a close friend and virtuoso clarinettist who co-invented the basset clarinet. Mozart handed the completed manuscript to Stadler in October 1791.
What is a basset clarinet and why does it matter for Mozart's Clarinet Concerto?
The basset clarinet is an instrument with an extended lower range, descending to a written low C rather than the written E of a standard clarinet. Mozart wrote the concerto specifically for the basset clarinet, but after his death the solo part was altered by unknown arrangers so it could be performed on conventional instruments.
What happened to the original manuscript of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto?
The original manuscript was lost after Mozart's death. His widow told a publisher that Stadler had either lost it, pawned it, or had it stolen. By 1801, three publishing houses had released editions with the solo part adapted for standard clarinet.
When was the first reconstruction of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto for basset clarinet performed?
The first modern performance of a reconstructed version was given on the 28th of June 1951 in Prague by the Czech clarinettist Josef Janoous, using a reconstruction made by Jiri Kratochvil. The first recording on a basset clarinet was made in September 1968 by Hans Rudolf Stalder with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra.
What films feature Mozart's Clarinet Concerto on the soundtrack?
The Adagio of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto is heard in Out of Africa (1985), with soloist Jack Brymer. Parts of the concerto also appear in The King's Speech (2010), though only the orchestral sections are used.