Mozart was a fan of the clarinet, a fairly new instrument in his day. His Quintet was first performed in 1789 but for us it was played by some of the senior musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra at their first engagement of their residency at this year's Edinburgh Festival.Their seven-city tour marks the Orchestra’s first international tour since the autumn of 2019, prior to COVID-19 and takes them on to Germany, France and The Proms. On stage was their Concertmaster and First Associate Concertmaster on one side of Principal Clarinet, with Principal Cello and Principal Viola on the other side. Ricardo Morales, on the clarinet, was all smiles when his lips were not in use - whilst it seemed first violin and viola, facing one another, shared the leadership of the players. They gave us a happy performance.
After the interval the clarinettist disappeared and the Principal Bass joined the group. So too the ever energetic and enthusiastic Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who told us of his happy memories of earlier Edinburgh Festivals and sung the praise of his Philadelphians - before taking command of the piano. Mozart's Piano Concert No 12 is a scaled down version of a concerto, scaled down by Mozart himself. What was different was the effective addition of the double bass. Yannick Nézet-Séguin could easily have stolen the show with his piano playing but rather was spot on, almost reserved, whilst in a characteristic way leading the group from the stool. A thoroughly enjoyable Thursday morning at The Queen's Hall.
Event: Thursday 25th August 2022 at 11am