On Mozart’s Birthday, David Nicholson Performs Mozart Clarinet Concerto

Let’s celebrate Mozart’s birthday (January 27) with a video on our YouTube channel of one of his most sublime works – the Clarinet Concerto – written only two months before his tragically early death.  Forget the pandemic for half an hour, and bask in the beautiful sound of a performance by the Pasadena Community Orchestra, recorded in January 2014.  Our soloist was the extraordinary David Nicholson, and the Orchestra was led by Music Director, Beth Pflueger.

Mozart had a wide circle of friends in Vienna in the 1780s.  They included the woodwind instrument maker Theodor Lotz, and a virtuoso on the basset clarinet, Anton Stadler.  Mozart loved the deep sonority of the lower register of this larger version of the clarinet, and the still-larger basset horn. Those were productive years in one of Europe’s musical capitals, and these collaborations – composer, instrument builder, and virtuoso performer – yielded many compositions and performances on these instruments.  Over the years their popularity declined, and these days we hear these works on the modern clarinet.  The Concerto has the classical three-movement form, with quick outer movements that are bouncy and playful in character.  But no explanation can do justice to the serene beauty of the central slow movement, a vision of calm and contentment.  Just sit back and let the mellow tones of the clarinet relax you!

We were disappointed that we had to cancel the January 2022 concert, but we hope that this joyous music will lift your spirits for a while.  The Orchestra loves to play for a live audience!  We’ll be back in March to resume our 2021-22 season. Be sure to check the Events page for the most up to date concert information.