Principal musicians from the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra perform the only two quintets ever written for historical basset clarinet and strings: Mozart’s iconic, beloved Clarinet Quintet, and the shimmering, ocean-inspired Wavelength by Australian composer Nicole Murphy, commissioned by ARCO in 2024. Also featured is Mozart’s String Quartet in C, written when he was only 17 – a remarkable early example of his characterful chamber music.

Wavelength draws on the ocean and the shimmering tone colours of historical basset clarinet and gut strings, inviting listeners to hear the sun rise on the horizon, the glow of phosphorescent seas at dusk, and a storm unfolding through the night.

There are only two of these instruments in Australia, and this is the first piece written for it since Mozart’s time, commissioned exclusively by ARCO. This concert marks Wavelength’s Melbourne premiere.

6pm Monday 7 December | Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre

Mozart’s clarinet

Looking like an extra-long clarinet, the basset clarinet was an invention by three friends: Wolfgang Mozart, clarinet virtuoso Anton Stadler, and instrument maker Theodore Lotz. A long, bulbous section adds four lower chromatic notes - and a big juicy sound - to the range of an ordinary clarinet.

But soon after Mozart wrote his beautiful Clarinet Quintet, the instrument was lost to history - until recently. Hear the story at our concerts!

ARTISTS

Members of Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra

Nicole van Bruggen | Clarinet
Rachael Beesley | Violin
Alison Rayner | Violin
Stephen King | Viola
Natasha Kraemer | Cello

PROGRAM

MOZART String Quartet in C major, K.157

MOZART Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581

NICOLE MURPHY Wavelength for historical basset clarinet and string quartet (2024 ARCO commission)

ABOUT NICOLE MURPHY

Australian composer Nicole Murphy’s music has been described as “exquisite and sensitive” (Sydney Morning Herald), “strong and compelling” (Loudmouth) and “full of exhilarating tension” (Arts Knoxville). She was a featured composer and presenter in our August 2023 Voyage of Musical Discovery education program in Brisbane. Nicole joined ARCO’s 2024 tour of Brisbane and regional Queensland as composer and Voyage co-presenter of an ARCO-commissioned world premiere for historic clarinet and strings.