Mozart's original autograph score for the entire Clarinet Concerto was likely lost by the early 19th century.
Compositional Technique
In his 'Paris' Symphony, Mozart included a 'premier coup d'archet' (forceful opening) to suit Parisian taste, and surprised audiences in the finale by starting with quiet violins before a sudden forte.
Instruments
The Clarinet Concerto was originally written for the basset horn in A (sometimes called basset clarinet), an instrument invented by Anton Stadler, for which no original examples exist today.
Composition History
Mozart composed his Clarinet Concerto in October 1791 for his friend Anton Stadler, a clarinettist and member of the imperial wind band.
Performer Biography
Fabio Di Càsola, the clarinetist on this recording, won first prize at the prestigious Geneva Competition in 1990, becoming the first clarinettist in 16 years to do so.
Historical Context
Mozart's trip to Paris in 1778 was a financial disaster, but the works he composed there, including the 'Paris' Symphony, were innovative.
Composition History
The solo part of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto was rewritten for a normal clarinet as early as 1801, with some low passages transposed upward, due to the early disappearance of the basset horn.
