Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Gordon Jacob - Clarinet Quintets (Gaudier Ensemble)

Information

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Gordon Jacob

• Mozart - Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581
• Jacob - Clarinet Quintet
• Mozart - Clarinet Quintet Fragment in B-flat, K. 516c (Completed by Duncan Druce)

Gaudier Ensemble

    Richard Hosford, clarinet & basset clarinet

    Marieke Blankestijn, violin

    Ulrika Jansson, violin

    Iris Juda, viola

    Ursula Smith, cello

Date: 2026

Label: Orchid Classics

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This recording unites three closely related works for clarinet and strings, bridging Classical refinement and 20th-century English lyricism. At its core is Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a landmark of the repertoire written for Anton Stadler, notable for its expressive dialogue and elegant variation form. Clarinet Quintet by Gordon Jacob reflects Mozartian clarity through a distinctly English voice, balancing lyricism and structural precision. The program concludes with Allegro of a second Clarinet Quintet, completed by Duncan Druce, offering insight into an unfinished Mozart work. Performed by the Gaudier Ensemble with Richard Hosford, the album highlights the instrument’s evolving expressive range.

The Gaudier Ensemble, described by The Sunday Times as “one of the world’s elite ensembles,” was founded in 1988 by international musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe with a shared focus on chamber repertoire for strings, winds, and piano. An early residency at Kettle’s Yard helped shape their artistic identity and expand their repertoire. Since then, they have gained international acclaim as a leading mixed chamber group, with numerous recordings for Hyperion Records receiving critical praise. In 1991, they founded the Cerne Abbas Music Festival, maintaining a strong presence there for over three decades while continuing distinguished individual careers across Europe.