Klarinet Archive - Posting 000449.txt from 1995/11

From: thehat@-----.ORG
Subj: Re: Francaix Concerto Info.
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 1995 19:48:56 -0500

Judging by current performances (I have recordings by Maurice
Gabai and Phillip Couper), today's performers seem to be fearlessly
ignoring Brymer's admonition, added to which the composition, with all
its difficulties, seems to be creeping increasingly into the audition
literature. (End of quote)

I would like to mention CHarles Neidich as well. Although he has not
recorded the work commercially, he performed it with a German orchestra
about 10-12 years ago. I have heard a tape of this performance andit is
by far the best performance of the piece I have ever heard (having also
heard the two mentioned above). Absolutely fearless and practically
flawless fingers, despite an orchestra that plays very poorly. Tempi are
close to the markings, which apparently are too fast (something to do
with a defective metronome Francaix was using when he wrote the piece).

In any case, Francaix conducts on the Gabai recording, if you can find
it (I bought my copy about 10 yrs. ago and haven't seen it since). The
tempi on that recording are well below what is marked in mvts. 1,2 & 4.

Hope the performance goes well. I find the piece charming myself.

David Hattner
clarinetist-at-large, NYC