Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Clementi and Mozart

Donald Macleod explores the relationship between Muzio Clementi and Mozart, including the famed contest put on by Emperor Joseph II between the two musicians.

Muzio Clementi was one of the 18th and 19th Century鈥檚 most revered musicians 鈥 a star performer, a composer admired by Czerny, Beethoven and Chopin and an astute musical businessman. However, he also had his detractors in his own time and history hasn鈥檛 been as kind to him as to the greater names of his time 鈥 Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Today his name is unfamiliar to most but it is certainly better known than the music he wrote. He was fortunate to have interactions with perhaps the world's three greatest composers, but this fortune may have also worked against him - putting him in direct competition with them. Over this week of programmes, Donald Macleod explores Clementi鈥檚 contact with the greatest composers of his day, reassessing the life and music of the man known as the 鈥渇ather of the piano鈥 in the light of these encounters.

In Tuesday鈥檚 programme, Donald explores the relationship between Clementi and Mozart, the famed contest put on by Emperor Joseph II between the two musicians and the later use of each other鈥檚 music. Donald also explores a failed romance that in the aftermath of the contest threatened to derail Clementi's musical career.

Mozart (arr. Clementi): Symphony no. 40 in G minor, K 550 (Finale)
Gisella Curtolo, violin
Lucio Labella Danzi, cello
Davide Cabassi, piano
Luigi Lupo, flute

Sonata in G minor, Op 7 No 3
Peter Katin (fortepiano)

Toccata in B flat Major, Op 11 No 2
Howard Shelley, piano

Sonata in B flat major, Op 24 No 2
Piotr Kepinski, piano

Variations on Mozart鈥檚 Batti, batti, o bel Masetto from Don Giovanni, WoO 10
Maria Tipo, piano

Sonata in E flat major, Op. 8 No 2 (II. Larghetto con espressione)
Howard Shelley, piano

Produced by Sam Phillips for 大象传媒 Wales

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No 40 in G minor, K 550

    Performer: Gisella Curtolo. Performer: Lucio Labella Danzi. Performer: Davide Cabassi. Performer: Luigi Lupo. Music Arranger: Muzio Clementi.
    • CONCERTO CD2063.
    • CONCERTO CD2063.
    • 1.
  • Muzio Clementi

    Sonata in G minor, Op 7, No 3

    Performer: Peter Katin.
    • DIVINE ART 24113.
    • DIVINE ART 24113.
    • 1.
  • Muzio Clementi

    Toccata in B flat major Op 11, No 2

    Performer: Howard Shelley.
    • HYPERION CDA67717.
    • HYPERION.
    • 4.
  • Muzio Clementi

    Sonata in B flat major Op 24, No 2

    Performer: Piotr Kepinski.
    • CD ACCORD ACD1992.
    • CD ACCORD ACD1992.
    • 15.
  • Muzio Clementi

    Variations on Mozart's Don Giovanni, Act I: Scene 16, WoO 10

    Performer: Maria Tipo.
    • EMI CDC7547662.
    • EMI.
    • 4.
  • Muzio Clementi

    Sonata in E flat major, Op 8, No 2 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Howard Shelley.
    • HYPERION CDA67632.
    • HYPERION.
    • 13.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 15 Oct 2019 12:00
  • Tue 1 Mar 2022 12:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.