Mozart Clarinet Quintet K.581

Selya, Tittle, Parkinson and Roberts in a studio shot for Mozart Clarinet Quintet K.581 in 2000. Photo by Robert Whitman.

Parkinson, Roberts and Selya in a promotional photo for Mozart Clarinet Quintet K.581. Photo by Robert Whitman.

Roberts and Parkinson perform at the American Dance Festival. Photo by Bruce R. Feeley.

Roberts, Parkinson, Tuttle, Selya and Benjamin Bowman in a later performance.

Premiere

Date

6 July 2000

Company

Twyla Tharp Dance

Venue

Page Auditorium

Location

Durham, NC

Production

Choreographer

Twyla Tharp

Composer

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Quintet for Clarinet, 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello in A major, K. 581, 1789)

Live Musicians

Charles Neidich (basset clarinet), Vera Beths (violin I), Lucy van Dael (violin II), Jurgen Kussmaul (viola), Anner Bylsma (violoncello)

Lighting Designer

Scott Zielinski

Costume and Scenic Designer

Santo Loquasto

Assistant to Ms. Tharp

Laila Sales

Dancers

Elizabeth Parkinson, Ashley Tuttle

Andrew Asnes, Keith Roberts, John Selya

Number of Dancers

5

Dance Sections

I. Allegro

Roberts, Selya, Asnes

II. Largetto

Tuttle, Selya, Parkinson, Roberts

III. Minuetto

Selya, Tuttle, Asnes, Roberts, Parkinson

IV. Tema con Variazioni

Parkinson, Roberts, Selya, Asnes, Tuttle

Description

After choreographing two big Romantic ballets (The Beethoven Seventh (2000) and The Brahms-Haydn Variations (2000)), Tharp reassembled a company and created Mozart Clarinet Quintet K. 581, a chamber ballet, for the new dancers.

The piece opens with a men’s trio; their gentle humor and easy demeanor sets the tone for the following sections. The phrases are light and uninhibited but firmly planted in classical vocabulary. The dancers are grouped and regrouped in a variety of combinations – solos, double duets, a male-female-male trio – creating a feeling of familiarity within the ensemble.

From the original program: “The Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation thanks Jeff & Patsy Tarr, Charles & Stephanie Reinhart, Santo Loquasto, David Kahne, Scott Zielinski, Burr & Burton Academy, Mark Springer/Quad Recording Studios NYC. Ashley Tuttle appearing courtesy of American Ballet Theatre, Andrew Asnes and Francie Huber appearing courtesy of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.”