Arrangements of familiar opera melodies for two instruments were popular in Mozart's time, as evidenced by two arias from his opera, The Magic Flute, on this album.
Composition History
Mozart wrote the three Divertimentos for Strings when he was only 17 years old.
Interpretation
David Shifrin performs the Clarinet Concerto in its original version on a specially-built extended clarinet, replicating the instrument used by Anton Stadler.
Composer Biography
Mozart's last string quartet, last piano concerto, and the Clarinet Concerto (his last completed work) were all written in his final year, amidst financial stress, serious illness, and domestic worries.
Instruments
The clarinet virtuoso Anton Stadler, for whom Mozart wrote the Clarinet Concerto, played a clarinet with a range an octave lower than today's standard clarinet.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Divertimentos, as their name implies, are intended for pleasure and entertainment, featuring light-hearted outer movements.
Composition History
Mozart composed the Clarinet Concerto for his friend, the clarinet virtuoso Anton Stadler, who played a clarinet with an extended lower range.
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