Mozart: Clarinet Concertos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Sharon Kam is a beautiful clarinetist. She has everything you want to hear in a wind player: lovely tone, musical phrasing that always makes the composer's points, a wide range of moods and dynamics--the works. Although Kam speaks in the booklet about her personal approach to Mozart's music, it's still quite stylish and convincing throughout, backed with conviction by the experienced orchestra and conductor, veterans of many recordings. It's a pity that Teldec's ungenerous coupling--a brief, relatively superficial virtuoso concerto by a contemporary of Mozart--makes this a specialist item for clarinet lovers rather than a feast for Mozarteans. Most recordings of the Clarinet Concerto, like the one by Kam's teacher Charles Neidich, include more Mozart. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Horn Concerto No.1 In D, K.412: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.1 In D, K.412: Rondo (Allegro)
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Allegro maestoso
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Andante
Horn Concerto No.2 In E Flat, K.417: Rondo
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Romance (Larghetto)
Horn Concerto No.3 In E Flat, K.447: Allegro
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Allegro moderato
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Romance (Andante)
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495: Rondo (Allegro vivace)
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Largo-Allegro moderato
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Larghetto
Quintet In E Flat For Piano And Wind K.452: Rondo (Allegro)

Customer Reviews:

What Hath God Wrought?.......2007-04-02

Well ...

If you're reading this, it's likely that you have already have already heard about Dennis Brain and in particular the famous passages where his rapid playing left a generation of listeners shaking their heads in astonishment.

This is how everyone first hears of him: a sort of circus act with lots of notes but without the great tone that distinguishes really good horn playing. This first impression is strengthened by stories about the strange, narrow-bore horn he played and by the sound of occasionally clipped staccato notes and a tight low range. As someone once said, "My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed!"

But in Brain's case as well as in Fitzwilliam Darcy's, closer acquaintance reverses the impression altogether.

At odds with the idea of frenetic speed, Brain produces some of the most sensitive phrase shaping you'll find in any musical recordings. His effortless mastery gives many passages a relaxed feeling that suggests he is playing them a third lower than written. His recordings of hornists' two signature pieces -- Strauss's first horn concerto and Mozart's third -- are both gentler than any other recording in the catalogue. He plays the Mozart third at a surprisingly slow tempo and turns the first page of the Strauss, which most players muscle up on, into a lullaby.

In the middle and upper ranges, Brain's tone, while unobtrusive, is so full and pure that many people say they have a tendency to block out everything else and just listen to that sound. That may not seem an asset for ensemble playing, but his accompaniment playing was wonderful and his reliability a huge asset for his colleagues. The expectation of perfection became so other-worldly that, on the inevitable day when Brain finally flubbed a passage in rehearsal, the always mischievous Sir Thomas Beecham stopped the orchestra, put his baton down, and just said, "Thank God."

Brain's trills, lip trills in particular, are uniquely clear, and at the end of the day, yes, there is that fabulously rapid articulation that leaves listeners wondering whether they were dreaming what they just heard.

This playing all emanated from a personality that was apparently of the utmost simplicity and modesty. Alan Civil had the last word on this forty years ago in his remembrance of Brain on the jacket of "The Art of Dennis Brain" album (Seraphim 60040, if you can find it). Brain's early, accidental death strikes one the same way as Beethoven's deafness does: a hint that higher forces are at play.

No, this is not a review of Brain's Mozart. It is an invitation to begin an acquaintance. Dig in!

World class music.......2007-01-10

By far the best rendition of the Mozart Horn Concertos ever produced. David Brain must be the "El Supremo" of horn playing. An added bonus on this CD is the Quintet in E flat for piano and wind and with Colin Horsley as the pianist is an added treat for New Zealanders. A "MUST HAVE" for all lovers of Mozart.

I Wish Dennis Brain Had Been Born So That His Performing Powers Peaked in 1995.......2006-05-17

I purchased The LP in 1953 and proceeded to 'wear it out.' No, I have not yet thrown it out.

However, I have had the good fortune to find myself a resident of the San Francisco Peninsula since 1970 and, in time, have had the privilege to make the acquaintance of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, who perform one of each of their annual subscription concert series locally here in Palo Alto.

In 1992 they recorded the Horn Concertos with Lowell Greer performing them on the natural (valveless) horn, the instrument which was in use at the time Mozart composed them. Given the temperamental nature of the the instrument, the recording is doubtless a composite of many 'takes.' It is also a breathtaking performance and is now my 'standard.' See:

[...]

Take a moment to listen to some of the available tracks.

Form your own opinion.

A Master Performs a Master.......2005-08-20

I'm not much of a classical music reviewer. I've been exposed to a lot of music, but I tend to stick to favorite performances, so I don't have the depth needed to really be authoritative. Except perhaps for oboe, and that's because I grew up listening to John De Lancie and Marcel Tabuteau - and once you hear really good, you know what's what. This album is a similar case. Dennis Brain wasn't a 'good' French horn player, he was probably the best that there ever was or will be.

I've heard a lot of performance horn players. All you have to do to see what I mean is to wander through this website and pick off performances of the first movement of Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat and you will discover that Brain never blurbles a note, and every attack in the Allegro Maestoso is pinpoint. He is technically and tonally perfect and couples that with a superb musical sensibility. It was one of the great musical tragedies that he died at the age of 36.

Something to keep in mind is that when Mozart wrote these works for his good friend (and cheesemonger) Joseph Leutgeb, the French horn was a very limited instrument. Many of the notes were reached by stopping the bell to some degree, which affected volume and intonation. Mozart wrote to take advantage of Leutgeb's expertise at this, and Dennis Brain chooses to maintain this effect rather than just play his modern instrument with no thought to the past.

These compositions cover a fair range of time. Number 2(K.417) is really the earliest (1783). And the incomplete No. 1 (K.412) is really the last (1791). The best though, in both my mind and Mozart's is the Quintet in E flat for piano & wind. Mozart was a master in using instrument groupings in novel and powerful fashion and this is no exception.

EMI has remastered this CD over their previous release, which enhances clarity, and makes it easier to hear Dennis Brain's considerable finesse. I own their first release and the difference in clarity makes it worth finding this edition. But even the duller production of the 1997 is enjoyable. It you want a good selection of Dennis Brain's work on one CD this is an excellent buy.

Mozart: Horn Concert.......2005-08-14

Great recordings of the century, and that is what it is.
Herbart von Karajan conducting, and Dennis Brain on horn tells it all; a wonderful rich music experience are waiting for you.
In my ears its probably one of the best recordings ever made of the horn concert. And even though its from the mid 50`s it comes in a wonderful remastered CD.
The CD comes with a very good booklet in English; telling the story behind the record.
I highly recommend this album

Mozart: Concertos for Clarinet, Oboe & Bassoon

Average customer rating:

Mi recomerdacion tener este CD como algo muy especial
So beautiful, musical, and superior to Karajan's DG Mozart Symphonies.
most strongly recommended for clarinet concerto
beautiful playing
Karl Leister plays Mozart

Mozart: Concertos for Clarinet, Oboe & Bassoon

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002S3P
Release Date: 1993-02-16

Tracks:

I: Allergo - Karl Leister
II: Adagio - Karl Leister
III: Rondo (Allegro) - Karl Leister
I: Allegro Aperto - Lothar Koch
II: Adagio Non Troppo - Lothar Koch
III: Rondo (Allegretto) - Lothar Koch
I: Allergo - Gunter Piesk
II: Andante Ma Adagio - Gunter Piesk
III: Rondo (Tempo Di Menuetto) - Gunter Piesk

Customer Reviews:

Mi recomerdacion tener este CD como algo muy especial.......2006-02-25

Mozart interpretado por Leister-Koch Piesk
bajo la direccion de Herbert von Karajan
es una experiencia inolvidable.
Este CD es uno de mis favoritos que escuchare
por largo tiempo.

So beautiful, musical, and superior to Karajan's DG Mozart Symphonies........2005-12-03

Herbert von Karajan's early 1970s EMI recording of Mozart's oft recorded concertos for Clarinet, Oboe, and Bassoon is one of his better Mozart recordings. The Berlin Philharmonic play like angels, and their musical sense, at non rushed, but never too slow tempos, is very effective and beautiful. Mozart's music is well served, and the clarinet, oboe, and bassoon soloists are all 100% first class. This is so beautiful and musical, and superior to Karajan's DG Mozart Symphony recordings - with the same Berlin Philharmonic, made in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Had Karajan conducted the symphonies with the same sense of line and flow he does in these concertos, he would have gone down in history as one of the great Mozart conductors. As it stands with commercial studio recordings that are available, that honor goes to Karl Bohm (DG), Rafael Kubelik (CBS, EMI); Otto Klemperer (EMI); Thomas Beecham (EMI, Sony UK); George Szell (Sony); and Bruno Walter (CBS).

I am not a woodwind player or expert on these works, but I know a great recording when I hear it, and this is one of the great Mozart concerto recordings.

There are other options: Bohm/Vienna Philharmonic with pricipals (DG); Wildner/Vienna Mozart Academy (Naxos); Ormandy/Philadelphia (Sony); and the recently released Brilliant Classics 7 disc box of Mozart Concertos.

most strongly recommended for clarinet concerto.......2005-10-21

I agree with the other reviewer who comments on the wonderful tone of the clarinet soloist. The others are good but this one stands out. The orchestra is fine and acceptably imaged in the recording. This is an excellent disc that is easy to recommend. Edit: I have found since writing this a collection of these works I prefer on Deutche Grammophone on one of their "Trio" collections by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Particularly the bassoon and oboe soloists on that recording are better in my opinion and the orchestral textures are lighter -- more appropriate to Mozart in my opinion.

beautiful playing.......2004-04-22

Karl Leister delivers a great performance of the clarinet concerto. His dark sound and amazing intonation and his ability to play with such easy is remarkable.

The oboeist was not near the same level as Mr. Leister. Though he did have a good enterpretation I couldn't get past how unoboe like his sound is. I guess it's hard to find anyone nearly as good as alex klein.

The bassoonist is a delight to listen to. This has to be one of the most relaxed entrepations of the concerto I have heard yet. Everything came out so naturally as if the concert were in the heart of the performer,

I give this recording a 4 star rating, if the oboist had better tone I would have given it a 5 star.

Karl Leister plays Mozart.......2002-02-28

Karl Leister's rendition of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto is a joy to listen to. His beautiful dark sound is perfect for this piece, especially the Adagio. His phrasing and musicality are outstanding. This is a must have, not only for clarinet and Mozart lovers, but for all music lovers.

Average customer rating:

The Value Far Exceeds the Cost
Value Packed Concerto Set
Great Set of Concertos
Fine performances with superb accompaniments.
Great de Peyers and Tuckwell performances

Mozart: Wind Concertos

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000040OX6
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: I Allegro
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: II Adagio
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: III Rondo; Allegro
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K313 (285C): I Allegro maestoso
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K313 (285C): II Adagio non troppo
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K313 (285C): III Rondo: Tempo di menuetto
Oboe Concerto In C Major, K314: I Allegro aperto
Oboe Concerto In C Major, K314: II Adagio non troppo
Oboe Concerto In C Major, K314: III Rondo: Allegretto

Tracks:

Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K191: I Allegro
Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K191: II Andante ma adagio
Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major, K191: III Rondo: Tempo di menuetto
Horn Concerto No. 1 In D Major, K412: I Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 1 In D Major, K412: II Rondo: Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 2 In E Flat Major, K417: I Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 2 In E Flat Major, K417: II Andante
Horn Concerto No. 2 In E Flat Major, K417: III Rondo: Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major, K447: I Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major, K447: II Romance: Larghetto
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major, K447: III Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat Major, K495: I Allegro maestoso
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat Major, K495: II Romance: Andante cantabile
Horn Concerto No. 4 In E Flat Major, K495: III Rondo: Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

The Value Far Exceeds the Cost.......2005-06-28

Not only does this 2-CD set present a great set of pieces by Mozart, but the renditions given are among the best anywhere. Much good has been said about the performances of the clarinet and horn concertos, and rightly so. I must, however, being a flute player, comment on William Bennett's wonderful G Major concerto: you would be hard-pressed to find a more songful and intense recording. The bassoon concerto is the best I've heard, as is the oboe concerto. The horn concertos, though thoroughly enjoyable, are bested by James Sommerville. I would also recommend you compare the clarinet concerto here with Bohm's on DG, which is transcendent.

Value Packed Concerto Set.......2002-01-19

Outstanding value from this two-CD set. Highlighting this solid recording is a marvelous clarinet performance by de Peyer backed solidly by the London Symphony and what could be the best of the horn renderings of Mozart's Concertos by Tuckwell again with the London Symphony. The balance and mood here by their interpretation is excellent, with the strength and toning by de Peyer and Tuckwell superb.

These are ably supplemented by very able renditions of the oboe and bassoon concertos respectively by Mack and McGill with the Cleveland Orchestra.

One will not go astray by having this set in their collection.

Great Set of Concertos.......2001-03-19

This is a marvelous set of mozart's wind concertos. De Peyer is an incredible musician who executes the clarinet concerto with sheer brilliance. Elegant and refined, this is the only recording of this concerto you'll ever need. The flute and bassoon concertos are remarkable as well. John Mack is a wonderful player who shapes the most beautiful phrases in the oboe concerto, and puts a touch of elegance on every note he plays. Tuckwell is a notoriously excellent musician, and his interpretation of the horn concertos are certainly 1st-rate, with an accompaniment to match. These CD's are certainly an asset to any Mozart-lover.

Fine performances with superb accompaniments........2000-09-07

Both Barry Tuckwell on horn and Gervais de Peyer on clarinet are fine soloists who play their respective concertos beautifully. However, it is the suberb accompaniments by Peter Maag -- an extremely gifted Mozart conductor -- which provide the polish which makes this a 5-star set.

Great de Peyers and Tuckwell performances.......2000-04-04

The clarinet concerto played by de Peyer is undoubtedly the best recorded performance of this great concerto. The sound is absolutely beautiful and the interpretation is retrained but elegant to the extreme. The orchestra under Maag played precisely and stylishly. In spite of the age of this recording, the sonic quality is very fine. Tuckwell's performance is as fantastic as one would expect from the all time greatest horn player.

Average customer rating:

Great collection, value
A great way to get Mozart's concertos
A great set of Mozart concertos
Excellent - Worth Every Penny!
Highly enjoyable

Complete Wind Concertos
Mozart , and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000065TV1
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Customer Reviews:

Great collection, value.......2007-05-31

This is a really neat collection of the Mozart wind concertos. I really like the Sinfonia Concertante and Bassoon Concertos. The bassoonist here does a fantastic job with that concerto; he is matched only be Thuneman and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The cadenza for said concerto is also interesting, and provided some inspiration for my own cadenza when I performed the work.

Overall this CD is a MUST HAVE, most particularly for the performances, but also because it is pretty cheap for such great music.

A great way to get Mozart's concertos.......2005-11-11

This set of three discs is a great, economical way to fill out your collection of Mozart concertos. Contained are good to excellent versions of all 4 horn concertos, the three works featuring flute, the fine clarinet concerto and the early bassoon and oboe concertos. The digitally recorded sound is very clear if occasionally dry and the balance between soloists and orchestra is quite natural. Many times, particularly with the flute works, on other recordings the soloist ends up being unnaturally favored but not so here.

The Sinfonia Concertante which opens the collection is a delightful work even if it is not actually a Mozart composition -- which it almost certainly is not. The Clarinet soloist in the clarinet concerto plays beutifully and I think rivals Leister's great work with Karajan. The four horn concertos are fine even if the soloists are not quite at the level of the famous Brain recordings. The Bassoon and Oboe soloists are truly excellent and these are the best versions of these pieces I have yet heard.

This collection can be recommended highly.

A great set of Mozart concertos.......2005-09-01

This set is an excellent value. 212 minutes of Mozart's music at a very modest price. And what music! The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra does a superb job.

The first disc begins with the Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon and Orchestra. Next is one of Mozart's last works, the beautiful Clarinet Concerto. Charles Neidich is the soloist, on basset clarinet, and his technique is simply the best. I also like his cadenzas very much. By the way, the use of the basset clarinet makes this concerto so much better! It was indeed written for the basset clarinet, which goes four half-notes lower than a normal A clarinet, and five half-notes lower than a normal B-flat clarinet. And the disc finishes with an Andante for Flute and Orchestra, with Susan Palma on the flute.

The second disc has the famous four horn concertos. William Purvis is the soloist for concertos 2 and 3 (playing his own cadenzas, of course). David Jolley solos for concertos 1 and 4. Purvis does a fine job, and I like Jolley even more. The disc also has a very nice recording of an early Mozart work, the bassoon concerto (written when Mozart was 18). Frank Morelli is the solist here, and offers us nice cadenzas too.

The final disc begins with the Oboe concerto, where we get Randall Wolfgang as the soloist (playing his own cadenza). Then we hear the Flute concerto, followed by the Flute and Harp concerto. Susan Palma is the flute soloist on both of these, and she plays her own impressive array of cadenzas. Nancy Allen does a great job on the harp on the latter piece.

I highly recommend this set of discs.

Excellent - Worth Every Penny!.......2004-08-19

I have heard all these pieces and even played some myself over the years and thought that this was an excellent collection of Mozart's wind concerti. You really get to see the development of this prodigy from his teens (bassoon concerto) to his late 30s, the clarinet concerto was one of his last crowning pieces.

The oboe and bassoon concerti were both delightful and the "clicking" of the keys mentioned by another reviewer are the limitations of the instruments. I'm an oboist and all oboes and bassoons make this noise. I don't find it distracting at all. If you hear it, think of it as an percussive accompaniment. :-) I thought the bassoon concerto to be one of the best interpretations yet and the oboe concerto was confident and bright.

The Sinfonia Concertante (one of my original reasons for purchasing the set) was delightfully balanced and playful - a definite pleasure.

The flute concerto and andante were both fun to listen to as well as the concerto for flute and harp. The horn concerti are always joyful and are a nice balance to all the woodwind (technically-speaking) music.

The clarinet concerto was indeed lovely and played on a basset clarinet so there were some richer tones than when it's played on a typical 'A' clarinet. Superb.

I thought all the concerti had wonderful cadenzas and the orchestra was excellently balanced against the soloists. This is a CD collection that you will never regret and will feed your soul.

Highly enjoyable.......2004-06-02

Mozart wind concertos may not rank among his finest and deepest works, but they indeed show that a master is at work. It is difficult to judge a whole set, and you may probably find some better versions of this music, but I think that this recording deserves some praise. The performings from both the soloists and the orchestra are solid, stylish and virtuosistic. To name an example I consider the clarinet concerto to be one of the best achievements here. The slow movement is just a miracle of beauty, and at one point the soloist leads the orchestra to an incredible pianissimo nuance, so soft and delicate that you may be afraid of breathing. Mozart's music is just so beautiful that instead of writing about it we should just listen and enjoy. Moreover the price is very attractive, so no excuses!

Mozart: Horn Concertos 1-4; Quintet K 452

Average customer rating:

It doesn't get any better!
A sweet-sounding remastering of these classics

Mozart: Horn Concertos 1-4; Quintet K 452

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000BPN24U
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Tracks:

Allegro
Rondo (Allegro) (K514, Arr. Submayr)
Allegro Maestoso
Andante
Rondo
Allegro
Romance (Largehtto)
Allegro
Allegro Moderato
Romance (Andante)
Rondo (Allegro Vivace)
Largo-Allegro Moderato - Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble
Larghetto - Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble
Rondo (Allegro) - Dennis Brain Wind Ensemble

Customer Reviews:

It doesn't get any better!.......2007-06-02

This recording is over 50 years, but Dennis Brain's performance is still the benchmark for Mozart's horn concertos. Brain was the complete master of a very difficult instrument. Pure magic!

A sweet-sounding remastering of these classics.......2006-09-02

Dennis Brain's universaly acclaimed Mozart horn concertos haven't been out of hte catalog for fifty years, but for the longest while the 1953 sonics were boxy and cramped. So it's good news that in this remastering Paul Baily has amde the orchestra and soloist sound sweet, even if the boxiness still remains. Brain's playing is uniquely supple and lyrical; future horn players like Barry Tuckwell brought more fire into their playing.

The Quintet for Piano and Winds K. 452 is also a fine performance. It dates from 1954. the only caveat is ot to mistake this reading, with Colin Horsley as the (very good) pianist, for another EMI recording, also with Dennis Brain on horn but with Walter gieseking as pianist. He was, of course, much more famous than Horsley, but the present recording is livelier in the first movement, where gieseking preferred the more usual slower tempo.

Mozart and Beethoven: Clarinet Concertos

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Pieces to listen too!
Sounds good to me
Great CD. Fun transcription
Treasured CD
Superlative performances of these sublime works

Mozart and Beethoven: Clarinet Concertos
Mozart , Beethoven , Collins , Russian National Orchestra , and Pletnev
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004SDNZ
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra In A Major K. 622: 1. Allegro
Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra In A Major K. 622: 2. Adagio
Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra In A Major K. 622: 3. Rondo, Allegro
Concerto For Clarinet (Violin) And Orchestra In D Major: 1. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Concerto For Clarinet (Violin) And Orchestra In D Major: 2. Larghetto
Concerto For Clarinet (Violin) And Orchestra In D Major: Rondo, Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Pieces to listen too!.......2005-11-19

Mozart's clarinet concerto (Collins) certainly sounds better than Pay's "sticky key-pad" performance. The Beethoven violin concerto transcribed for clarinet sounds warm, relaxed and right at home. The violin concerto had to be rewritten slightly to allow Michael Collins to breathe while playing this piece! I believe Gramophone recommended this CD for the Mozart clarinet concerto. You know something, they were right......

Sounds good to me.......2005-11-01

Well, I'm a clarinetist, so I simply must give this five stars.

The Mozart clarinet concerto is well-played, but not all that special. Yes, it is on a basset clarinet, and I consider that essential. But there are other good recordings, such as by the very artistic Sabine Meyer, or by Antony Pay, or Joan Enric Lluna, or David Shifrin, or Thea King, or my favorite, Charles Neidich.

And yes, there are some options about just which notes ought to be lowered when the concerto is played on the basset clarinet. I think this is not a big issue.

Anyway, we all know why we are getting this album. It's for the Beethoven violin concerto, played on a clarinet, with great cadenzas by Pletnev. It is not an easy piece. In the first movement, one occasionally has to omit notes just to breathe.

I like it. I think clarinetists need to try playing concertos written for other instruments.

Great CD. Fun transcription.......2005-05-26

This is a wonderful recording that everyone should hear! I've only heard 2 recordings of Michael Collins, but from what I've heard so far, he has a really great sound (dark and centered, very clear) and excellent technique.

Collin's Mozart is well done, though he doesn't really "break any new ground" (of course, the piece is so well known and widely recorded that there isn't really anything new he could have done, even if he tried). The only thing that annoys me is that there is a certain spot in the central section of the middle movement where Collins (who is playing a basset clarinet) plays a passage in the range normally employed by the A clarinet. I realize this is a minor detail, but the thing I like best about the piece on basset is that in the slow movement, there passages in the middle section right before the return of the original melody which are normally changed for the A clarinet, but are much better when played in what is supposedly the original range on basset. This is the part I look forward to when listening to the slow movement. I was a little disappointed to hear that he left one of the passages in the altered state, although his instrument could play the lower notes... However, this is just a reflection of my personal tastes, and not any shortcoming on Collin's part.

The Beethoven is wonderful, and Collins does a great job. The only problem I find (and this is entirely my own problem) is that since the piece is 1) a HUGE piece in the violin repertoire that I am very familar with and 2) very difficult and contains some passages that are entirely out of character for the clarinet (such as passage where breathing is almost impossible, or awkward technical things) I am constantly aware that the piece is NOT a clarinet concerto, which is somewhat distracting. Collins pulls off the harder spots very well, and they sound good. I just can't help thinking about the technical aspects of the transcription, rather than just sitting back and enjoying the music. However, as I said, this is just me being unable to turn off that nagging voice in my head and just enjoy (I think that this would be much less of an issue if you didn't know the violin version so well).

Overall, this is a great CD. Collin's Mozart could probably stand up to any other version on the market (although Antony Pay's is my personal favorite). The Beethoven is an ambitious undertaking, and I think it is entirely successful (both from a musical and technical standpoint). Enjoy!

Treasured CD.......2005-05-15

I have many recordings of Mozart's sublime Clarinet Concerto, and they're all wonderful. This reading by British clarinetist Michael Collins, accompanied by the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Pletnev, is one of my favorites. Mr. Collins performs the concerto on a modern Basset clarinet which extends the instrument's range downward several notes. Mozart wrote his concerto for the Basset clarinet, and it really makes quite a difference when hearing those marvelous arpeggios runs taken from the lower-most regions of the instrument's range. Michael Collin's plays the concerto with tremendous feeling, and demonstrates a flawless technique. Kudos go to the Russian National Orchestra as well for their beautiful and spirited accompaniment.

The other work on this CD is an arrangement of Beethoven's Violin concerto (by conductor Mikhail Pletnev) transcribed for clarinet. To my knowledge this is the only recording available of the clarinet arrangement, which makes this CD even more treasured. Needless-to-say, in the hands of Michael Collins it's outstanding in every way. BTW, there is also an equally outstanding piano arrangement of Beethoven's Violin concerto on Naxos (#8554288) coupled with his Triple concerto. Beethoven's Violin concerto has been served well in many forms. Highly recommended CD!!!!

Superlative performances of these sublime works.......2002-11-23

Forget any reservations you may have regarding the transcription of Beethoven's masterpiece - it is truly wonderful, sounding both lyrical and beautiful on the clarinet. Michael Collins performs the definitive Mozart Clarinet Concerto. This is simply the greatest reading of this work that I have ever heard. If you only buy one cd in this lifetime, this has to be the one!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Music and Excellent Performance

Double Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000IYMW
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Tracks:

Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, K. 365 in E flat Major: I. Allegro
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, K. 365 in E flat Major: II. Andante
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, K. 365 in E flat Major: III. Rondeau:Allgero
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, Op.88a in A flat Minor: I. Andante Sostenuto
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, Op.88a in A flat Minor: II. Andante con Moto - Allegro molto vivace
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, Op.88a in A flat Minor: III. Adagio ma non troppo
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, Op.88a in A flat Minor: IV. Andante - Allegro
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, in E Major: I. Adagio - Vivace
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, in E Major: II. Adagio non Troppo
Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra, in E Major: III. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Music and Excellent Performance.......2002-01-26

I play this CD almost every day while I am working, driving...

Mozart, Mercadante, Weber: Concertos for Clarinet

Average customer rating:

Mozart, Mercadante, Weber: Concertos for Clarinet

Manufacturer: Camerata
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001ZHY
Release Date: 1995-12-28

Tracks:

Clarinet Concerto in A Major K.622: I. Allegro
Clarinet Concerto in A Major K.622: II. Adagio
Clarinet Concerto in A Major K.622: III. Rondo; Allegro
Clarinet Concerto in B-Flat Major Op.101: I. Allegro Maestoso
Clarinet Concerto in B-Flat Major Op.101: II. Andante con variazioni

Tracks:

Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor Op.73: I. Allegro
Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor Op.73: II. Adagio ma non troppo
Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor Op.73: III. Allegretto
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major Op.74: I. Allegro
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major Op.74: II. Andante con moto
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major Op.74: III. Alla Polacca
Concertino Op.26 for Clarinet and Orchestra: I. Adagio ma non troppo
Concertino Op.26 for Clarinet and Orchestra: II. Andante
Concertino Op.26 for Clarinet and Orchestra: III. Allegro
Divertimento for Clarinet and Orchestra

Mozart: Concertos for Bassoon, Oboe, Clarinet

Average customer rating:

Very calm
A terrific bargain
Excellent value introduction to Mozart's wind concerti
Long live Amadeus

Mozart: Concertos for Bassoon, Oboe, Clarinet

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000013PC
Release Date: 1992-06-30

Tracks:

Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B Flat Major, K. 191: Allegro
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B Flat Major, K. 191: Andante ma Adagio
Concerto For Bassoon And Orchestra In B Flat Major, K. 191: Rondo:Tempo di Menuetto
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: Allegro aperto
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: Andante ma non troppo
Concerto For Oboe And Orchestra In C Major, K. 314: Allegro
Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra In A Major, K. 622: Allegro
Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra In A Major, K. 622: Adagio
Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra In A Major, K. 622: Rondo: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Very calm.......2006-06-06

The best concerto on this extremely good CD is the Bassoon concerto which is played with extreme vibrancy and operatic character, just how I like the Mozart concerti played. However in contrast to the Oboe and Bassoon concerti, the clarinet concerto is much more calm and complatative, although it is played with an extremely beautiful tone and well thought out articulation, it doesn't show off the dynamic range of the instrument very well, it is too slow and not nearly passionate enough. Furthermore there is a lack of operatic character. This is, in my opinion essential in this concerto, I didn't feel that the clarinetist brought out the obviously wanted difference in tone between the lower and higher registers.
Having made these negative comments, it must be stated that this is a welcome break from what can often be very samey recordings.
I would recommend this recording simply because of the vibrancy of the Oboe and Bassoon concerti and the "different" nature of the Clarinet concerto and also the beautiful tone on the clarinet.

A terrific bargain.......2005-11-12

Fans of Mozart's Clarinet, Oboe and Bassoon concertos have many fine options these days, not least this bargain Naxos offering, which is very good and easily a match for more big names who record these delightful works. I don't know who the Vienna Mozart Academy players are, but they need bow to no one when it comes to precision of musical feeling in these concertos. Conductor Johannes Wildner may not be a big name in a league with Bohm, Ozawa, Ormandy, or others who have made excellent recordings of Mozart's woodwind concertos, but he is very fine just the same. All the soloists - not big names in the US, but more well known in Vienna where this was recorded, are excellent. The conducting and orchestra provide great teamwork, and play with a real ensemble spirit, in the manner of a chamber orchestra. The orchestra sounds full and rich, if not the Vienna Philharmonic Karl Bohm has for his DG recordings. (Some of these are budget priced: check for an early 1990s budget priced issue of Bohm/Vienna, if you don't want the Naxos).

Listeners need not shy away from this Naxos because of the low price and lack of big name performers. Sound is very good, wide ranging and well balanced. It is a true bargain.

Excellent value introduction to Mozart's wind concerti.......2004-06-06

This is a highly enjoyable disc of the bassoon, oboe and clarinet concerti written in the 3 main stages of Mozart's career. While it has a few shortcomings, it's unlikely you will find a better performance of the bassoon or clarinet concertos at this price.

The bassoon concerto receives a lively and well-balanced performance. The soloist has a full and very mellow tone but does not lack character, and produces unusually flexible dynamic shaping in melodic passages. Orchestral accompaniment is notably colourful with horns and oboes prominent in the outer movements and muted strings in the slow movement. Cadenzas are tasteful: altogether a very satisfying performance.

The oboe concerto is somewhat disappointing after this: the tone of this soloist is uniformly loud and brilliant, and (in contrast to the other two items) the solo is balanced absurdly strongly against the orchestra. When the solo oboe plays with string accompaniment one can scarcely hear the strings at all! Quite unrealistic.

The concerto has a lot of ornaments, mainly trills, which are done in a rather uniform and inflexible way. In almost all cases, the performer starts the trill with the lower note. But it has been known for about 70 years that this is only appropriate for 19th-century music: in the Baroque and Classical eras the trill started on the upper note almost always. These Viennese stick to their 19th-century habits and unfortunately miss the possible expressive effects of beginning on the upper note.

The clarinet concerto is virtually on the same level as the bassoon concerto for performance: the soloist is realistically balanced against the orchestra and employs very varied dynamics and tone colours, as well as faultless bravura passages.

However there are a couple of interpretive decisions that don't quite work. The conductor slows down, and loses flow and momentum, in the transition sections of the first movement, which might work in Schubert but doesn't here. In the slow movement the little connecting phrases for strings between the phrases of the soloist's melody are somewhat pulled out of shape and draw attention to themselves, rather than leading unobtrusively from one phrase to the next. The finale is perhaps a little slow - Allegretto rather than Allegro. However these on the whole do not interfere with the enjoyment of the performance. A good way to familiarise yourself with these works.

Long live Amadeus.......2000-08-10

Mozart is better known for his symphonies and operas and even his piano concerti. His music for flute, clarinet and bassoon is absoultely divine. This is the genius of Mozart. His melodies are rich, soft and lyrical. The music is superb. Especially if you like the perfectionized style of Mozart's music. This is a wonderful cd. I would purchase it because it makes a great background music for meditation, for an evening party or just for fun. Mozart is miraculous and the genius that is the boy wonder who became a great composer is truly evident in the little bits of music that hardly got recognized. The three concertos here are excellent. Also, look for his 4 horn concertos which are spectacular, and his music for oboe and other winds. This is a great cd and I urge any classical fan to buy it.

Mozart: Concertos for Clarinet, Flute & Bassoon / Karl Böhm

Average customer rating:

Singing, Flowing Winds
Bassoon Concerto is Lacking
Trust Bohm
Good until ...
Viva Bohm

Mozart: Concertos for Clarinet, Flute & Bassoon / Karl Böhm

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000001H03
Release Date: 1998-02-10

Tracks:

Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A Major: 1. Allegro
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A Major: 2. Adagio
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A Major: 3. Rondo. Allegro
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in G Major: 1. Allegro maestoso
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in G Major: 2. Adagio ma non troppo
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in G Major: 3. Rondeau. Tempo di Menuetto
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B Flat Major: 1. Allegro
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B Flat Major: 2. Andante ma Adagio
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B Flat Major: 3. Rondo. Tempo di Menuetto

Customer Reviews:

Singing, Flowing Winds.......2006-12-18

This is overall an excellent disc. The accounts of all three concerti, but especially the clarinet, are shapely and fine. The playing of Alfred Prinz, then principal clarinet of the VPO, is quite possibly the greatest playing I have ever heard, live or in concert. There is absolutely no breathiness, and his sound is incredibly clear and downright gorgeous (even more so than Peter Schmidl's sound with the VPO two and a half decades later). A one complaint I might have is that the first movement tempo seems a bit too slow; slightly faster and a sense of jubilance would have been conveyed nicely.
The flute and bassoon concerti are also wonderful, but it is the clarinet concerto, partly due to the greatness of the piece, partly due to the playing, that makes it the clear standout.

Bassoon Concerto is Lacking.......2005-06-27

The G Major Flute Concerto on this CD is truly wonderful; I have heard over 10 G Majors and the soloist here is not the greatest I've ever heard (if you're looking for those, see Rampal, Bennett, and Nicolet), but he and the VPO know each other well (as they should - he was a regular in the orchestra), and they produce a warm, easy, delightful performance of the G Major. I can say even more for the clarinet concerto: it is the best I've heard. Though I have heard only two other versions of it, those versions tend to be highly regarded, and neither can match this one which has Bohm bringing his full store of magic to the great Adagio.

Then we get to the bassoon concerto. Compared to the Decca version with the Cleveland Orchestra and Dohnanyi, this performance is downright terrible. The soloist seems insecure on some of the faster technical passages, he has a bad sound, and his interpretation is timid and uniformly uninteresting. Bohm of course does well as usual, but he is only able to fill the cup halfway. Listen to eight bars of the Decca and you can't but notice the difference: Dohnanyi's soloist has a fat warm sound with no technical trouble and a lively spirit about the whole thing - almost the opposite of what is presented here. I can't believe they would let such a musician into the Vienna Philharmonic, or even if I could believe that, I couldn't believe they should ever let him stand out front.

5 stars for the clarinet and flute concerti, 2.5 for Bohm's half of the bassoon concerto.

Trust Bohm.......2005-05-29

The only three people I feel I can consistently trust with interpreting Mozart well are Charles Mackerras, Neville Marriner and Karl Bohm. These three conductors have spent their lives studying the Mozartian style and successfully mix modern instrumentation with 18th century interpretation to create performances that are both authentic and sublime. In the case of this recording, Bohm provides what I believe to be the most beautiful account of the clarinet concerto ever recorded on a modern clarinet. Prinz and Bohm take leisurely tempos, allowing the listener to soak up the melodic lines and heavenly timbre of the clarinet without feeling rushed.

The flute concerto is equally good, Tripp providing a beautiful tone and a great first movement cadenza. The bassoon concerto is very well played by Zeman but at times seems to be covered by the orchestra during some of the tuttis.

The digital remastering of the original recording is wonderful. For those who care, there is no basso continuo on any of the recordings, (which was going out of style during the 18th century anyway). Personally, I don't care for continuo on anyting past the Baroque era, but it is a matter of one's personal taste.

As if this recording needed more endorsement, it is upheld by the Penguin Guide and NPR's Ted Libby as one of the best renderings of these three works. You really can't go wrong.

Good until ..........2004-04-19

... you get to the bassoon concerto. As a bassoonist myself, I can say that Dieter Zeman either truly has the worst sound I have ever heard, the microphones were really placed that badly, or both.

If it's the bassoon concerto you're after, then for the love of god, get something else; I'd recommend the performances by either Dag Jensen or Bernard Garfield.

The flute concerti (it IS "concerti" and not "concertos"; I really wish publishers would get this right) and the clarinet piece are, on the other hand, played truly wonderfully. I cannot think of a better performance of these particular works.

Viva Bohm.......2001-05-07

I concur with Samantha Jane's review. If anything, I am even more effusive about Karl Bohm, who in my view is the finest interpreter of Mozart on record, period. And if you liked thiis disc, check out Bohm's rendering of The Abduction from the Seraglio -- a joy!

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