Having played this instrument in high school, I was introduced to some of the most famous and beautiful pieces in the repertoire of the Clarinet. The Clarinet Concerto, K622, by Mozart is the standard composition and one of the most beautiful pieces of music you could ever listen to. I have it on a Naxos CD which also includes Mozart’s Concertos for Bassoon and Oboe, which are both fine pieces in their own right but probably aren’t quite up to the standard set in this concerto, which is his last major work besides his Requiem.
It is a fairly lengthy piece by any standards, almost half an hour, and is certainly quite a handful for the soloist. Its not terribly difficult technically, but as my teacher sometimes said, being able to play it musically places a big demand on the performer. Done right, this music is about as lyrical as you can find.
The middle Adagio is certainly the most memorable part - it has a slow, soft and incredibly sweet melody which even I used to be able to play (not very well, mind you!). The clarinet opens with a simple melody, repeated by the orchestra, and then a modification of the opening line, again repeated, and then into the main section of the movement, which is an at times complicated tune of sweeping scales and arpeggios, with a haunting and at times melancholy ring to it. It then goes back to the opening lines and concludes with a flourish. It’s a most singing piece.
The opening Allegro is almost 13 minutes long, and poses a great challenge for a performer. There are some incredible passages showcasing the range of the instrument and the capabilities of the performer, but without sounding overdone. The backing of the orchestra is masterfully done, and Mozart’s amazing skills of composition are drawn to the fore. The soloist and the tutti blend so well together.
The final Rondo rounds the concert out perfectly, with a scintillating pace and fantastic counterpoint between the clarinet and the orchestra. The piece ends with a massive climax, which ends in a fitting manner the greatest piece of music ever composed for the Clarinet.