Klarinet Archive - Posting 000345.txt from 1998/01

From: GTGallant <GTGallant@-----.com>
Subj: leister recording
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 12:34:46 -0500

After hearing about Karl Leister over and over on the list and elsewhere, I
stumbled upon a recording of the Mozart concerto. I was very displeased with
what I heard. He has a nice, clear tone and plays evenly, but any
professional worth their salt can, or should at minimum, be able to play even
and clean. The playing lacked a sense of pacing, had NO dynamics other than
mezzoforte, and was extremely dead. The recording most likely was done before
period performance knowledge, so I ignored all the wrong notes he played. I
had the impression from others that Leister was "the man"! I'm not trying to
object just for the sake of objecting about his playing style. Most
orchestral players today (and some soloists) play like Leister simply because
they were taught that way. Clarinetists tend to be less of musicians than
say, a violinist or singer - IMHO. I really disliked and laughed when I heard
the recording and will keep it as a reminder of how not to play. Maybe the
clarinet is not popular today is because of the stereotypes our "great"
players have created.

Does anyone else feel the same, or am I alone?