Klarinet Archive - Posting 000874.txt from 1996/03

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Clarinet CD's
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 1996 23:58:28 -0500

Yes, the Marcellus/Szell recording of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto is on the
CBS "Great Performances" series, UPC 0746437810. I haven't checked my Schwann
catalogue lately, but I would be surprised if this album is still in print.

At the time of its release, I seem to remember it being touted as THE American
model of style for that piece. I didn't actually hear that recording
until many years later, and I guess I must have fallen victim to the
hype. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be, although I still
liked it very much. By the time I heard it, I'd also heard Neidich's basset
clarinet recording with Orpheus, as well as one of Stoltzman's two or three
recordings of it (probably with the English Chamber Orchestra, or maybe
the Mostly Mozart Festival orchestra under Alexander Schneider, who I
believe has since passed away), plus DePeyer's, one of Leister's, and Andrew
Marriner's.

Does anybody know what concept Marcellus had in mind when he made that famous
recording? Did he have it in mind to adhere as closely as possible to
the performance practices of it's late 18th century genesis (short of
actually playing it on a basset clarinet)? Why was it considered a hallmark
among performances of that piece? Why is it, to this day, still somewhat
revered as a notable interpretation?

Neil

On Sat, 30 Mar 1996, Cynthia Kay Matthews wrote:

> Joel,
> If I were you, I would buy the Robert Marcellus recording of the Mozart
> concerto, played with the Cleveland Orchestra. It is truly outstanding.
> I think it is on the "Great Performances" label.
>
> Cindy Matthews
> Denton, TX
>

   
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