W. A. Mozart | Clarinet concerto KV 622 – Adagio (1791)
 
Composed in October 1791, just two months before his death, the clarinet concerto is a magnificent summation of Mozart’s genius, merging the fresh, optimistic musical narrative of his youth with the deep understanding of counterpoint and emotional palette of his maturity. In particular, the adagio is Mozart’s ultimate manifesto of salvation, redemption, hope and forgiveness, as far as possible from the sorrowful Requiem that he would begin composing shortly thereafter. Its intense, fluid, dreamlike theme full of warm expressivity makes the most of all the clarinet’s range – recently accepted as a "noble" instrument – originally in the hands of Mozart’s friend Anton Stadler whom the piece is dedicated to, and afterwards inspiring generations of clarinetists.