Accompanied by the Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra, the Slovenian clarinetist Nadja Drakslar performs Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622. Conductor: Primož Zevnik. Recorded during the Gimnazija Kranj Great Christmas Concert, 2011.
Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto
Mozart wrote his clarinet concerto in 1791, shortly before his death, for the clarinetist and the composer’s close friend Anton Stadler (28 June 1753, Bruck an der Leitha – 15 June 1812, Vienna). It is one of Mozart’s latest works.
It consists of the usual three movements, in a fast–slow–fast form:
- Allegro (in A major and in sonata form)
- Adagio (in D major and in ternary form)
- Rondo: Allegro (in A major and in rondo form)
The concerto was written to be played on the basset clarinet, which can play lower notes than an ordinary clarinet, but after the death of Mozart, it was published with changes to the solo part to allow performance on conventional instruments. The manuscript score is lost, but from the latter part of the 20th century onwards many performances of the work have been given on basset clarinets in conjectural reconstructions of Mozart’s original.
Since there are no surviving instruments from Mozart’s lifetime. The oldest ones are from the early 19th century. What Anton Stadler’s instrument looked like, the instrument that Mozart saw, was not known for a long time. But, in 1992, an American musicologist discovered a drawing of Stadler’s basset clarinet in a program booklet for a concert that Stadler played when he was on tour in Riga, Latvia.
The instrument used by Stadler was invented and built by the Vienna K.K. court instrument maker Theodor Lotz around 1788.
Nadja Drakslar Petrač
Clarinetist Nadja Drakslar Petrač studied clarinet at the Ljubljana Academy of Music in the class Ord. Prof. Alojza Zupana. She graduated with honors
in 2010.
She completed her Master’s degree at the Graz University of Arts (Kunstuniversitat Graz).
She graduated from Gerald Pachinger with an excellent grade in October 2013. During her studies, she regularly attended master classes of internationally renowned clarinetists including Mate Bekavac, Sharon Kam, Michel Lethiec, Philippe Berrod, and Stephen Williamson, and international summer of chamber music schools, performed in various chamber music schools ensembles. She also regularly prepared independent recitals and participated in various festivals and projects.
After successful auditions, she also participated in several international orchestras, the most prestigious of which was the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan.
As a soloist, Nadja Drakslar Petrač performed as part of the concert subscription of the Academy of Music with the Symphony Orchestra of RTV Slovenia and the Orchestra SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana.
Her performance of Carl Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E♭ major, Op. 74 with the Symphony Orchestra of RTV Slovenia under the baton of conductor Rene Gulikers, in 2007 received a new award from the Academy of Music.
Now Nadja DRAKSLAR PETRAČ works as a clarinet professor at the School of Music Kočevje and the Litija Music School and devotes herself to her own sons.
Sources
- Clarinet Concerto (Mozart) on Wikipedia
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto in A Major for basset clarinet and orchestra, K. 622 on the Boston Baroque website
- Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 [Pierre-Laurent Aimard] - September 19, 2023
- Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata (Full) [Eric Zivian, fortepiano] - September 19, 2023
- Pavarotti sings Non Ti Scordar di Me at the Madison Square Garden, New York [1987] - September 17, 2023
Please give more personal information on Nadja Drakslar and, if possible, more musical selections featuring her playing. She is fabulous!!
I too would like to know a little more about this courageous young lady who has just 10% vision. Not only
that nadjai has taken on board the nasty comments about her movements while playing. Nadja
has answered her critics so lets hope that shuts them up. I am a member of a small appreciation
group of European composers. For the first 2 years khatia buniatishvili won the title but this year
the third we decided to put a cash value and guess who won by a mile—yes Dick Egan it was
Nadja Drakslar. I need her e-mail address so I can forward her winnings,if you have I would be
grateful. I am leaving mine
I just wanted to say thank you for your support of Nadja Drakslar, and your critique of a person who said something that was overly critical and negative about her.
I’m a 74 year old semi retired accountant living in Florida who has taken up a truly passionate interest in classical music…as a “tool” for me to use to help me to cope with my anger and frustration and anxiety during this tumultuous period of time we’re in right now. Part of that new hobby/interest of mine is to dive deep into all aspects of the music that I watch and listen to via
my YouTube subscription. That Is usually a way to discover a series of interesting and diverse elements which, in turn, helps to build a kind of mental acuity and “structure” that further amplifies the music, its composer, the conductor and of course each of the members within the orchestra.
Pardon this rather extensive comment. But I felt it was necessary since what you commented about brought tears to my eyes, and they’ve further added to my view of Nadja and my enjoyment of music.
This world needs more people like you. Thank you for sharing your story. Feel free to comment on my response.
Your comments about Nadja are great. She needs to know that she has many, many fans that cherish her abilities. She is fantastic.
Nadja is a lovely lady and an Extremely talented musician. I was sorry to learn she has limited vision. Of course she moves around when playing. All musicians do
if they are passionate about the music.
Quite a artist even for 77 year old music fancier. I don’t know a lot about the technical side of music but I know what I like.
Nadia is great.
Don’t know where she’s now but someone is getting blessed.
Current schedule would be interesting.
This Texan loves the archestra and her part .
I first heard Nadja while watching Scheherazade on U-tube. The clarinet solos in that piece are extremely challenging and she played them flawlessly. What a fantastic performance. I was truly impressed. I saw her a couple more times before I came across her performance of Mozart’s clarinet concerto. What an outstanding clarinetist! I look forward to more music with Nadja.