Klarinet Archive - Posting 001044.txt from 1998/07

From: dnaden <dnaden@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Leister
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 15:47:32 -0400

David--

I believe some clarification is in order. First, My personal collection of CDs
with only clarinet repertoire exceeds 250. In addition to the majority of
recordings made by Leister (Oreo, Camerata, etc), I have recordings made by Thea
King (Hyperion), Emma Johnson (ASV), Janet Hilton (Chandos), Dieter Klocker
(Orfeo, MDG, etc), Hans Rudolf Stadler, Richard Stolzman (RCA/BMG, etc), David
Shiffrin (Delos), Eduard Brunner, Eddie Daniels, Sabine Meyer (EMI, etc.), Paul
Meyer (Denon), Walter Boeykens (Harmoni Mundi), Charles Neidich (Sony, etc),
Gervase de Peyer (Chandos, etc), Colin Bradbury, Victoria Sommes, etc., etc.
While my collection is far from complete, it is representative of the major
clarinetists recording today. Not only do I own these recordings--including the
one in question--I have listened to evey one on more than one occassion.

Since you are predisposed to purchase a recording of Leister's based on your
preferences, can you make the same claim as to the number of recordings and
artists that you have purchased or listened to? Whether you can or can't is not
really relavent to the issue at hand, but please just think about it.

Your own comments in your last post only supports what I told Mark in the first
place: Check out other recordings. As an aspiring clarinetist he should--as we
ALL should--do comparative listening. I never stated that there is a right or
wrong way to perform a piece, but no single recording can be considered
definitive.

You have a definitie preference for Leister's recordings, and that is admirable.
If you choose to emulate him in your playing style, that's a choice that you
make. The original post to which I responded asked about available recordings,
and I stand by my original post to check out other recordings. No one is
denegrating Mr. Leister, and no one is denegrating your opinion. I do point out
however, that you become extremely defensive any time a list member makes any
statement about Leister or his recordings that does not hold him or the recording
to your personal view of him.

David S. Naden, MMus
Cal State University Los Angeles

PS--Thank you for supplying your name. It's much preferable than responding to
your user name.

HatNYC62@-----.com wrote:

> >>>As an example, although the repertoire is not French or German, rather
>
> Scandanavian, is his recording of the Crusell Concertos for Clarinet.
> Excellent
>
> performances, yes. However, very legato and smooth, when compared to the
>
> performances by Thea King on Hyperion. Thea King's performances have just
> that
>
> extra sparkle or whatever because of the crisper, sharper articulation and
>
> phrasing.
>
> I did
>
> make the recommendation that Mark Bradley check out other available
> recordings,
>
> because I believe that there are others out there that are not better in terms
> of
>
> overall performance, but are better in terms of articualtion, attacks,
> releases,
>
> etc that give much more of a "French" feel.<<<
>
> An interesting comment, as Leister in from the North of Germany, very close to
> Scandinavia. I belive this record is with a Scandinavian orchesta too? Thus
> you cannot be saying that Ms. King's style is 'more' Scandinavian? Perhaps you
> are saying that you just like that recording better than Leister's, an opinion
> to which you are entitled.
>
> My point is/was: there is no right or more French way to play French music.
> Several Germans have made it their specialty, like the pianist Gieseking.
> What you can always count on from Leister is a smart approach to the music,
> superb execution and great finesse. Knowing this alone puts an unheard disc of
> his ahead of most on the market, including perhaps some French players.
> Whether you feel his style of playing is approriate to the works in question
> requires that you hear the recording, don't you think? I have heard many
> performances by soloists, orchestras, etc. that were stylistically very
> differend than what I was used to, but found extremely convincing in the end,
> and have thus forced me to reevaluate my thoughs on the works in question.
>
> As far as your comments on articulations and attacks. Leister has perhaps the
> best articulation I have ever heard, and there is certainly nothing
> particularly "German" about it.
>
> David Hattner
> free-lance clarinetist, NYC
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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