Concerto in e

Concerto in e minor by Saverio Mercadante
Edited and revised for Flute and Piano by Ervin Monroe based on the version for Flute and Strings

The e minor Concerto comes from a group of six concerti probably written between 1818 and 1819. Handwritten parts for this concerto bearing an 1819 date are on file in the Naples Conservatory library. It was scored for solo flute, strings, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 trumpets and 1 trombone, probably the instruments that were available in the local opera orchestra. However, a second, later, and more practical version for solo flute and strings also exists and is more widely played today. Mercadante’s flamboyant style comes to life in this showy work, and the fact that he studied flute is evident in the technical flare of the piece. Of particular note is the charming theme of the last movement, Rondo Russo.