Mozart vs. Shostakovich

ABOUT

Like all mature works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) featuring the clarinet, the Quintet in A major was composed with the composer's friend and inspirational interpreter, Anton Stadler, a member of the Vienna Imperial Orchestra, in mind. In Dmitri Shostakovich's Quintet, too, the impetus for the work was the performer - in this case the Beethoven Quartet, an ensemble of players from the Moscow Conservatory who premiered Shostakovich's First String Quartet.

Programme and performers

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Quintet for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola and Cello, K 581
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Menuetto. Trio
IV. Allegretto con variazioni

Irvin Venyš – clarinet, Helena Jiříkovská, Milan Pala – violins, Vladimír Bukač – viola, Jiří Bárta – cello

Interval

Dmitrij Šostakovič
Dmitri Shostakovich: Quintet for Two Violins, Viola, Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 57
I. Preludium: Lento — Poco più mosso — Lento (attacca)
III. Fuga: Adagio
III. Scherzo: Allegretto
IV. Intermezzo: Lento (attacca)
V. Finale: Allegretto

Milan Pala, Helena Jiříkovská – violins, Vladimír Bukač – viola, Jiří Bárta – cello, Konstantin Lifschitz –piano