Klarinet Archive - Posting 000346.txt from 1997/06

From: rteitelbaum@-----.com
Subj: Re: Mozart, K. 622: Oh No!! Not again...
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:44:30 -0400

Craig, while I'm not at all opposed to improvisation in the Mozart,
especially in the light of what I've learned from the insightful posts of
Mr. Leeson and other, I must say in all fairness that I think it was more
than the lack of improvisation that made the radio broadcast you heard so
boring. I heard the same performance on NPR last night, and I must say
that the performance itself was boring. I don't recall who the
clarinetist was, but he/she seemed to have the attitude that "This is not
a Romantic work, and therefore I don't need to put much feeling into it."
Admittedly, it's tough to put feeling into the Mozart, especially in the
1st and 3rd movements, which is one of the reasons I believe it to be the
most difficult piece in the clarinet repertoire. But the NPR performance
simply fell short. It sounded like the product of too many rote lessons
and not enough thought. (Not that I could play it better, but aren't most
critics just people who couldn't make it as performers?) On the other
hand, I've heard outstanding performances that made very little use of
improvisation.

Rob Teitelbaum
rteitelbaum@-----.com

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org