Dvorak: Cello Concerto in B minor

The Dvorak Cello Concerto was completed in February 1895 in New York, and is presented in a standard three movement format, running for approximately 40 minutes, opus 104 in B minor. 1 – Allegro 2 – Adagio ma non troppo 3 – Finale Dvorak was in his mid-fifties when he wrote this piece, having been … Read more

Mozart: Oboe Concerto K314

Mozart’s oboe concerto was written in 1777, and scored for strings, 2 oboes, 2 horns, and oboe soloist. This orchestral formation makes for a lovely light sound and texture, slightly lighter than the Mozart Cosi Fan Tutte overture and substantially different to the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique. The oboe of this classical period did not include … Read more

Mozart – Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola K364

Allegro maestoso – Andante – Presto This is my favourite piece of Mozart. I first played it as a 16-year-old and marvelled at how the composer, unlike many others, allows each instrument in the orchestra to maintain a significant tune in its own right and at the same time contribute to the harmonious whole. It … Read more

Cimador: Concerto for Double Bass

Allegro – Larghetto – Allegro The double bass is different from other stringed instruments in the orchestra. Unlike the violin, viola and cello, it is tuned in fourths rather than fifths, the same as the viol. And some basses have five strings or a mechanism that allows the lowest string to be played at a … Read more

Mozart: Bassoon Concerto K191 (soloist Angela Kirsten)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed the bassoon concerto in B flat in 1774 when he was just 18 years old. It was one of the first original concertos he composed, and his first for a wind instrument. It is likely that he wrote it for the court musicians of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, perhaps being inspired … Read more

Haydn: Trumpet Concerto

I allego (sonata) II andante (sonata) III allegro (rondo) Joseph Haydn was one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the classical period – he wrote an astonishing 107 symphonies, 83 string quartets, 45 piano trios, 60 piano sonatas, 14 masses and 26 operas amongst many other scores. But in all this abundance, this … Read more

Krommer: Clarinet Concerto in E flat

Franz Krommer’s clarinet concerto in E flat, opus 36, is one of over 300 pieces he wrote during a prolific and illustrious career.  A late eighteenth century Viennese contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven, Krommer was born in the Czech town of Kamenice in 1759, where he was taught by his uncle Anton, who was choirmaster … Read more

Mozart: Piano Concerto no 17 in G major

At the age of 17, Mozart was engaged as a court musician in Salzburg, but grew restless and travelled in search of a better position, always composing abundantly. Whilst visiting Vienna in 1781, he was dismissed from his Salzburg position, but chose to stay in Vienna where he achieved fame but little financial security. During … Read more

Beethoven: Violin Concerto

Beethoven’s only completed violin concerto is today one of the most often performed and recorded in the violin repertoire. However, as with many other works which are now highly regarded, its premiere was not an unqualified success. Written towards the end of 1806 for its first performance on 23rd December of that year, the solo … Read more

Brahms: Double Concerto

The Double Concerto is Brahms’ last major orchestral work, written in the summer of 1887 and first performed on the 18th October that year, with the composer himself conducting the cellist Robert Hausmann and violinist Joseph Joachim. Hausmann was a member of the Joachim Quartet and Brahms’ favourite cellist. The Second Cello Sonata was composed … Read more