Klarinet Archive - Posting 000203.txt from 1996/06

From: Donald Yungkurth <DYungkurth@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Spohr Cto No. 2
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 00:16:09 -0400

Luuk van Buul writes,

>There is a new recording (1995, but I don't remember of >which of the four
Spohr concerti) with soloist Ottensamer. >I've heard this on the radio; it
has a more 'crisp' sound and >the accompanying orchestra plays better but
intonation of >the soloist is not as good as Leister."

Naxos 8.550688 has the Spohr concerti nos. 1 and 3 and the Potpourri, Op. 80,
with soloist Ernst Ottensamer and the Slovak State Orchestra (Kosice) and the
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. From the notes, Ottensamer is principal
clarinet of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Naxos 8.550689 has the Spohr concerti nos. 2 and 4 and the Fantasia and
Variations, Op. 81, with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Naxos CDs have a list price in the USA of six dollars. Ottensamer isn't
Leister, but he is as good as anyone else I've heard do Spohr and the CDs are
of good quality and should be welcomed by anyone interested in these works.

Leister's recordings of Spohr always sound to me like he is completely in
control and holding back from playing with a bit of bravura. They are
absolutely gorgeous, but a bit sterile. The virtuoso style of Spohr's
writing seems to beg for someone playing "on the edge" and not playing safe.
I would certainly never part with the Leister recordings, but I tend to
listen to others.

I've also heard a recording of one of the Spohr concerti (can't remember
which one) on the radio which was recorded with one of the Vienna orchestras.
It was no better than the Naxos listed above.

Don Yungkurth (DYungkurth@-----.com)