Klarinet Archive - Posting 000039.txt from 1996/07

From: thehat@-----.ORG
Subj: ClarinetRecordings
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 02:31:45 -0400

I received an email from someone who wanted some recommendations on where to
find recordings of Marcellus and Wright. Just for starters, I'll mention that
the Wright recording of the Sibelius 4th I mentioned listening to at
Marcellus's house is conducted by Colin Davis with the BSO and is available
on Phillips. They recorded the cycle in the mid 70s and the recording of the
1st symphony in that set opens with an extrordinary effort from Wright.

Marcellus's recordings which are available are not hard to find. Many of his
finest efforts (Schubert Rosamunde) have never made it to cd, though, and are
thus hard to track down. Some will never make it to cd (I refer to certain
items conducted by Louis Lane(Liszt 2nd Hungarian, Enesco), some of which are
outstanding).

The released material is virtually all on Sony Essential Classics, a budget
label. Virtually anything labeled Cleveland/Szell includes the old man. Not
to be missed among these are:
Mozart K.622 (new in this particular series, but the same performance)
Brahms 3 (a must for anyone who wants to take auditions)
Schubert 8 & 9 (See above)
Janacek Sinfonietta (technique and control + volume)
Walton Variations on a theme by Hindemith (SOUND + legato)
Mahler 4 (Sound, Legato and phrasing)
Wagner album (GREAT Forest Murmurs)
Mozart 39 (great performance from everyone)
Strauss Symphonia Domestica + Death & Transfiguration (Interesting to compare
these recordings from different eras. I think the Domestica is the best
available)
Hebrides Overture (excellent clarinet duet! not sure if this is on cd)
Rimsky-K Capriccio (great technique + rhythm - is this on CD?)
Prokofieff ROmeo&Juliet w/Maazel (just saw this in a store for the first time
in a while - this was RM's last recording - fantastic)
There is also the Cleveland Orchestra's 75th anniversary set for those that
can afford it - it contains live broadcasts of material not commercially
recorded.

As for Wright. Many of his cds have been mentioned here already. The last
recording he made - Brahms + Mozart quintets is wonderful. Here are a few
others.
Schubert Octet (possibly out of print - anyone serious about the clarinet in
chamber music should have this, no one can do it better)
Beethoven Septet (never on CD, possibly even better than the Schubert, if you
can believe that)
Mozart, Schumann & Bruch trios (with Boris Kroyt & a young Murray Perhaia -
live concert from the '60s again not on cd, too bad, the playing is
priceless)
Shostakovich 1 (recorded in his first season with the National
Symphony&Howard Mitchell, 1954 or so - notable for almost no vibrato - on MCA,
now hard to find)
Mozart Gran Partita (out of print and rare cd, conducted by Moyse)
Stravinsky L'Historie (never on cd, rare on lp - with John Gielgud narrating!
wonderful!)

These are some of my favorites, I can never remember them all. Of course, one
should listen to as many (good) players as possible. Listening to all styles
and nationalities will allow you to pick up something from everyone, or at
least learn what you definately DON'T want to sound like. It is impossible to
keep up with all the recordings of the various players out there, though, and
record reviews basically tell you nothing. In my opinion you can almost never
go wrong with Marcellus or Wright. At their best, their playing has an
instructional quality, allowing you to absorb what they play into your mind.
If you listen to a lot of one or the other, it is almost impossible not to
begin imitating the playing style. Hard to pick better role models, in my
opinion.

David Hattner
clarinetist-at-large, NYC

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Origin: Hat's Nut House