The Solo Clarinettist in London Concert Life, 1740-1800

The flourishing concert life in London in the Eighteenth Century was an ideal showcase for the newest woodwind instrument, the clarinet. As the Eighteenth Century progressed the appearance of clarinettists in London concerts increased significantly. Performers playing the newest woodwind instrument began to appear at a number of concert venues in the city, performing a variety of repertoire including solo concertos. A number of extant advertisements and concert reviews specify performances by named clarinettists, allowing an insight into the performers heard by contemporary audiences. This paper will examine references to solo clarinettists performing in London concerts drawing on a variety of extant source material. It will also seek to provide an insight into the most well known clarinettists in London at this time and the audience response to both the performers and the newest woodwind instrument. In order to discuss the developing role of the solo clarinettist in London concerts I will explore research questions such as: • When did solo clarinettists first perform in London concerts? • At which venues did solo clarinettists appear in concert? • Which solo clarinettists performed most frequently? • What repertoire was being performed and by which composers? • What reviews exist of performances by solo clarinettists at this time? • Are extant reviews of these performances favourable? This paper will seek to provide an insight into the developing employment of the clarinet as a solo instrument in London concert life and examine how the instrument and performers were received by contemporary audiences