Few composers shaped the future of instruments as much as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His concertos, ranging from piano to clarinet, remain among the most studied and performed works for instrumentalists, even hundreds of years after his death. Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major, K. 191/186e, has stood the test of time as a rite of passage for bassoonists.
The piece is one of the most common solo repertoire requirements for auditions with major orchestras, as evidenced by the lists from the Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony, and the Charlotte Symphony.
It’s also a proving ground for young players. Here, Katharina Mätzler performs the piece with the Stella Sinfonietta, a performing group from Germany’s Stella Vorarlberg private music school.
“The Stella Sinfonietta is the pre-college orchestra and offers students the opportunity to gain valuable orchestral experience,” the school writes. “The fact that this orchestral collective, which has existed since 2013, is more than just the “junior orchestra” of Stella Vorarlberg has been proven in recent concerts, where the high level of playing and sound culture has made people sit up and take notice.”
The Story Behind Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto
That much talent at a young age ties directly into Mozart’s own story. He was a child prodigy who began composing at just five years old. He wrote the Bassoon Concerto in June 1774 when he was 18, and it marked a first for the already seasoned writer.
“It was the composer’s first concerto for a wind instrument and is now probably the most studied piece in the entire repertory for the instrument,” Classic FM explains.
When he wrote for the bassoon, the instrument had not been standardized as it is today. The ancestors of the bassoon were developed in the 16th century, with the name bassoon (or fagotto Italian) appearing in the mid-17th century. By the late 18th century, bassoons had evolved from three or four keys to six.
“However, the fingering varied depending on the manufacturer, and a standard design had yet to be established,” Yamaha writes. “Coincidentally, Mozart’s ‘Bassoon Concerto’ was written during this period.”
Why Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto Endures
The concerto is split into three movements. The Allegro movement is a common sonata form that begins with an orchestral introduction. The second movement, Andante ma Adagio, is slower and more lyrical. Mozart must have been proud of his work here, as it contains a theme he would later feature in Le nozze di Figaro during the Countess’s aria, “Porgi, amor.” The final movement is in rondo form.
The bassoon is often relegated to a colorful accompaniment role in the orchestra, but Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto makes it shine in the spotlight. The piece is playful, flashy, and gets the most out of the instrument.
“The tone of the bassoon is deep and dark in the lower register, and warm and soft in the middle register. At the top, it is sharper and more nasal,” The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra writes in notes on the piece. “Mozart’s bassoon concerto leverages each aspect of the instrument. The first movement, of which we hear excerpts, is filled with masterful passages and charming subtlety, and Mozart effectively uses the possibilities for humor offered by the bassoon.”
As long as there is a bassoon, musicians will be playing the Mozart Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major, K. 191/186e.
