CAMERATA PYP PROGRAM NOTES: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: PIANO CONCERTO IN C MINOR, KV 491

Posted on May 11, 2022

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: PIANO CONCERTO IN C MINOR, KV 491

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) wrote only two of his many Concertos in a minor key. While the D Minor Piano Concerto is among the most performed of all, K. 491 in C Minor, which we hear today, is among the least performed of the ‘great’ Mozart concertos. It is unique among the piano concertos in its utilization of both oboes and clarinets, making it the largest orchestra of all his concertos. Further, Mozart utilizes this wind section extensively as its own solo choir throughout the concerto. This is especially notable in the Larghetto (second) movement, which features the winds and horns of the orchestra extensively.

The opening of the work is forward looking. It utilizes all 12 chromatic tones within its first 11 bars. Even Beethoven’s C Minor Concerto (No. 3), clearly inspired by this work, sounds conservative by comparison in its opening bars. Also unusual is its 3/4 time signature, which Mozart rarely used in his piano concertos. A delightful novelty is the re-entrance of the soloist after the cadenza, rather than the usual closing tutti for the orchestra alone.

Rather than the typical Rondo, the Finale is a theme and variations. Unusual as well is the minor key theme and, especially, the minor key ending! The two (of eight) variations in major keys are wonderfully sunny and provide a welcome contrast.
David Hattner