About the work
An overview of K.622 and the special place the Adagio holds in Mozart’s final creative phase.
The Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, composed in 1791, is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s last instrumental concerto. Written for the clarinetist Anton Stadler—Mozart’s close friend—the piece reveals mature, balanced writing and a deeply lyrical voice.
Among its three movements, the Adagio holds a special place. Here, Mozart reduces dramatic gesture to a minimum and builds emotion through simplicity: a long, continuous clarinet melody supported by a light, transparent orchestra. The result is music that seems to breathe—intimate, contemplative, and timeless.
This page invites you to listen to the Adagio with attention to details: the colors of the tone, the space between phrases, and the way silence is also part of the music. More than a slow movement, it is a pause within Mozart’s own sonic life.
Quick facts
- Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Work: Clarinet Concerto in A Major
- Catalogue: K.622
- Year: 1791
- Movement: II. Adagio
- Original instrument: Basset clarinet
- Average duration: ~6 minutes (varies by interpretation)
Listen & watch
The Adagio from the Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, is one of Mozart’s most lyrical pages: long phrasing, a velvety timbre, and a calm that feels almost “vocal”. Compare classic readings and more contemporary interpretations.
Classic reading (symphonic tradition)
A “reference” approach: dynamic balance, continuous cantabile, and the orchestra as a subtle frame for the soloist. This kind of recording often favors legato and purity of tone.
Contemporary reading (tone & breath)
A more “chamber-like” take: transparency, discreet rubato, and a focus on color/attack. It’s great for noticing how the Adagio is built in long arcs of breathing.
Score & listening guide
Follow the writing of the Adagio and discover how Mozart builds emotion with simplicity, balance, and sonic color.
Even if you don’t read music fluently, you can follow the score as a “visual map” for listening. The Adagio is not about virtuosity, but about a continuous melodic line, musical breathing, and an orchestra that sustains the atmosphere with extreme delicacy.
Here are some key moments that help organize the listening:
- 0:00 — Main theme The clarinet presents the melody calmly, with space between phrases, as if singing.
- ~1:10 — First expansion The line grows slightly in intensity, without losing the softness of the legato.
- ~2:40 — Lower register The timbre becomes darker and more intimate—here we feel the emotional “weight” of the original basset clarinet.
- ~3:50 — Return to the initial mood The discourse withdraws, returning to the serenity of the beginning, now with a sense of greater depth.
- Final — Suspended close No exaggerated drama: Mozart ends with balance, leaving the music “in the air”.
Notice how the orchestra almost never competes with the soloist: it creates a transparent harmonic background, allowing every detail of articulation and breath in the clarinet to be heard.
View score on IMSLPHow to use the score while listening
- Find the start of each long clarinet phrase.
- Notice where the melody drops to the low register.
- See how the orchestra sustains long, gentle chords.
- Compare how different performers stretch or compress the pauses.
What makes this writing so special?
Mozart uses just a few elements—a clear melody, stable harmony, and a light texture— but organizes them with such balance that the result feels deep and emotional with no apparent effort. It’s simplicity with sophistication.
Mozart & the clarinet
A light introduction to the work, the instrument, and why the Adagio sounds so “human”.
The Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, was composed by Mozart in 1791—at the end of his life— and is often remembered as a “song without words”. Among the three movements, the Adagio is the emotional heart: a long, serene, sustained melody, with the orchestra weaving a discreet fabric behind the soloist.
Part of the charm comes from the clarinet itself: unlike more “percussive” instruments, it can connect notes smoothly, create breathing phrases, and change color without losing the line. In the Adagio, Mozart explores exactly that: velvety tone, restrained dynamics, and a lyricism that feels close to the human voice.
This concerto was written for Anton Stadler, a virtuoso clarinetist and Mozart’s friend. Their partnership helped push the instrument’s limits and treat the clarinet as a lyrical protagonist—not merely an orchestral color.
Clarinet vs. basset clarinet (why it matters)
The concerto was conceived for the basset clarinet, a variant with a lower extension. That changes the emotional “weight” of certain passages: the Adagio gains a deeper, more velvety foundation.
Listening tip: when the melody drops into the low register, notice how the mood becomes more intimate—almost like a voice in a low register.
What to listen for
- Long clarinet phrases: like a voice singing in legato.
- Musical breathing: micro-pauses, arcs, and how the soloist sustains the line.
- Orchestra as a frame: light accompaniment that never competes with the theme.
- Transparent harmony: subtle shifts that keep the mood suspended and contemplative.
- Velvety low register: when the line descends, the Adagio becomes even more intimate.
Why is this Adagio so unforgettable?
Because it combines simplicity and refinement: a melody that’s easy to remember, yet written with a control of color, balance, and emotion that Mozart makes feel “natural”.
From manuscript to streaming
How Mozart’s last instrumental concerto crossed centuries and became one of the most beloved solos in the repertoire.
1791 — Composed in Vienna
Mozart writes the Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, for his friend Anton Stadler, a virtuoso of the clarinet and its lower extension (basset clarinet).
1791 — Premiere
The concerto is performed shortly before Mozart’s death. The Adagio immediately stands out for its long, serene, almost vocal melody.
19th century — Adaptations
With the basset clarinet falling out of use, the piece comes to be performed on the standard clarinet, with small changes to the original writing.
20th century — Historic recordings
The concerto becomes a cornerstone of the repertoire, with recordings by great soloists and orchestras, spreading the Adagio in particular.
Today — Digital life
Videos, high-definition recordings, and historically informed performances bring the Adagio to new generations on digital platforms.
Curiosities & influence
How the Adagio from K.622 went beyond the concert hall and became an emotional soundtrack for different generations.
The Adagio is often described as one of Mozart’s most “human” pieces. Its long, serene melody—paired with the absence of dramatic gestures—creates a sonic space that invites introspection. It’s not music that “imposes” emotion—it suggests, welcomes, and lets the listener complete the meaning.
That’s why it frequently appears in contemplative contexts: documentary soundtracks, reflective moments in films, ceremonies, and even personal playlists for relaxation or focus. The combination of melodic simplicity and expressive depth makes the movement timeless.
Even outside the orchestral world, the Adagio works surprisingly well: in arrangements for solo piano, guitar, or small ensembles, the essence of the melody remains intact— proof of how structurally strong and emotionally direct Mozart’s writing is.
Go further in your listening
- Listen with headphones and notice the “air” between the clarinet’s phrases.
- Compare slower (more contemplative) performances with slightly more flowing ones.
- Observe how each performer shapes vibrato and breathing.
- Try piano or guitar arrangements and notice what remains even without the orchestra.
Why does it move us so much?
Because it balances clarity and depth: the melody is simple enough to remember, yet rich enough to reveal new layers with every listen. It’s music that breathes— and that’s why it feels alive.