It is an interesting concept writing a new, contemporary work for an old instrument. One such instrument – an instrument that has fallen out of favour and indeed could be called ‘Mozart’s lost clarinet’ – is the basset clarinet. Anton Stadler (1753–1812) was a strong advocate of this melodic instrument and being good friends with Mozart, they worked together to write a Clarinet Quintet and Clarinet Concerto. While there has been historical drama around their relationship, these works continue to be popular around the world today.

What happened to this instrument? It slowly faded away, with manufacture discontinuing and composers ignoring it in favour of the more standard B-flat instrument. So we come to the 20th century when interest in period performances is piqued and people try to recreate works as the composers originally intended. Thanks to this movement, the basset clarinet has had a resurgence of popularity, including many new works composed to allow it to have a show-stopping solo.Richard Birchall is a cellist working with the Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra on this recording and his use of sonority is well developed in this new basset clarinet concerto written for the British virtuoso Michael Collins. Collins is, as always, a beautiful musician and brings this instrument to the heights of perfection.

Kate Rockstrom is a friend of Readings