Klarinet Archive - Posting 000418.txt from 2002/06

From: "Don Yungkurth" <clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: New Concerto (Stoltzman)
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 10:25:16 -0400

Michael (JEDISUSHI@-----.com) writes:

>Speaking of Stoltzman, I heard a new concerto by a composer whose last name
>is Nypch last night with Stoltzman and the Seattle Symphony. It was
>downright Frightening and I thought it was a saxophone at first...really.
>His playing has really deteriorated in the past few years. The concerto
>actually has a lot of well written vibrato, but the sound was so downright
>ugly. But anyway, I was wondering if anyone's heard it. :-)

This doesn't necessarily mean his playing has deteriorated. I've heard him
about half a dozen times live over the past 25 years and "chameleon" is the
only way I can describe him. I've come to believe that he can play any way
he chooses - I just dislike his choice at least half the time. I've heard
him do a wonderful Brahms Quintet and a horrible vibrato-laden Weber
Concerto. Just recently I tuned in during the last movement of the Mozart
concerto on FM and thought, "this is wonderful - I have to listen at the end
and find out who is playing". It was Stoltzman - I could hardly believe it
possible. I have no idea when the recording was made, but I never heard him
play Mozart to my liking before, with good solid tone and *no* vibrato.

Now, if you want to hear *really bad* Stoltzman (IMO), try his recording of
the Hindemith Quintet, Op. 30. In the third movement, which uses Eb
clarinet, he screeches away doing things that give the efeer a bad
reputation. It doesn't have to be like that.

Don Yungkurth (clarinet@-----.net)

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