Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 27; Clarinet Concerto (Mishka Rushdie Momen; Blaž Šparovec)

Information

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Clarinet Concerto in A Major, KV 622
• Piano Concerto No. 1 in F Major, KV 37
• Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-Flat Major, KV 595

Blaž Šparovec, clarinet

Mishka Rushdie Momen, piano

ORF Radio Symphonieorchester Wien

Howard Griffiths, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Alpha Classics

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This installment of the "Next Generation Mozart Soloists" series contrasts Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s compositional beginnings with his final masterpieces. The album features his first piano concerto (K. 37), written at age 11, alongside his final piano concerto (K. 595), performed by acclaimed pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen under conductor Howard Griffiths. Additionally, Blaž Šparovec, principal clarinettist of the Gürzenich Orchestra, performs the famous, operatic Clarinet Concerto (K. 622). Together, these late and early works highlight the extraordinary evolution of Mozart's brilliant mind, tracing his journey from youthful naivety to profound, Bach-influenced maturity just months before his death.

Mishka Rushdie Momen (born 1992) is a highly acclaimed British classical pianist. Mentored by legendary figures like Imogen Cooper and Sir András Schiff, she maintains a vast repertoire spanning early keyboard music to contemporary premieres. As a sought-after soloist and chamber musician, Momen regularly performs at prestigious international venues—such as Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall—and collaborates with leading global orchestras. Her discography features the acclaimed debut Variations (2019) and the chart-topping Reformation (2024), which earned a 2025 Critics’ Circle Award. Recognized by The Times as a breakthrough artist, she is celebrated for her exceptional nuance and versatility.

Blaž Šparovec (born 1994) is an acclaimed Slovenian clarinettist. After studying at the Ljubljana Conservatory and the Berlin University of the Arts under François Benda, he won first prize and two special awards at the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Competition. He serves as principal clarinettist of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and performs with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker. As a soloist, Šparovec has recorded several highly praised albums—including 20th-century milestones and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto—and is regularly commended by critics for his vocal phrasing, crystal-clear articulation, and vivid, versatile musicianship.