Klarinet Archive - Posting 000929.txt from 2000/06

From: MVinquist@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] Conductors--Rant; Marcellus's Mozart Concerto
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 20:02:33 -0400

I was at Oberlin at the time the Marcellus Mozart Concerto was recorded and
went to a live performance at Severance Hall. Marcellus sat in a chair with
the music in front of him, in the position where the concertmaster would
normally sit -- that is, within the orchestra rather than in front.

I heard that he could not play standing because severe diabetes had loosened
his teeth. However, I was still surprised that he read from the printed
music and did not position himself as a soloist. Also, he watched Szell for
every entrance. At the cadenza in the slow movement, they turned to face one
another, locked eyes, and Szell conducted each note individually.

The recording was made at that time and is perfect in every way, but has a
reverential air about it that keeps the phrases from breathing. For an
anodyne, listen to the first recording made by Gervase De Peyer, with Anthony
Collins conducting the London Philharmonic (I think), from the late 1950s
when De Peyer was in his glorious prime. It has recently been reissued on
CD. Every phrase is alive and breathing and fits naturally with the next. I
have over 100 recordings of K. 622, and to my mind, this is the best ever.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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