Despite the fact that the first information about pieces composed for clarinet dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, the instrument entered the composing and performing practice in the second half of the century, mainly thanks to the Mannheim composers. Christian Cannabich, Carl J. Toeschi, or one of the protagonists of this CD, Carl Stamitz, would often use clarinets in their orchestral pieces, although for a long time it was an alternative for flute or oboe. Despite the fact that not all 18th-century orchestras had a clarinettist in their ensemble, which was reflected by a meaningful sigh of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart after having listened to the Mannheim orchestra (“If only we had clarinets!”), the clarinet entered the orchestral scores on a lasting basis more or less in the 80s of the 18th century. Some of these delights can be found on this exciting new CD.