M*A*S*H and the Mozart Clarinet quintet

After a very successful 11-year run, the final episode of the hit TV series, M*A*S*H aired on February 28, 1983, garnering an astounding 125 million viewers. It featured prominently the Mozart clarinet quintet we will present at our September 20-21st concerts.

In this final episode, a doctor storms over to the Chinese prisoners and shouts at them “I am trying to listen to MOZART.”. Th leader of the group plays on his flute the sublime main theme of Mozart’s famous Clarinet Quintet…

The doctor then attempts to teach the Chinese musicians the Clarinet Quintet in its entirety…

Too soon however, the prisoners are loaded onto a truck by American military police in order to prepare them for a prisoner exchange. As the truck pulls away, the Chinese musicians serenade the doctor with an excellent rendition of the first part of the Quintet. 

…A short time afterward, wounded prisoners of war are brought to the MASH unit. As the doctor examines one dying Chinese soldier, he suddenly notices that the man is the leader of the quintet…

Link to the source article.

3 responses to “M*A*S*H and the Mozart Clarinet quintet”

  1. york1635@aol.com Avatar
    york1635@aol.com

    Great email!  Perhaps (with  your permission) we could forward this to our Music at Four list.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes of course, forward to as many people as possible!

      Like

  2. Thanks for this! Looking forward to the concert.

    Liked by 1 person

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