Klarinet Archive - Posting 000229.txt from 2002/10

From: "Albert T. Hunt" <Albert_T._Hunt@-----.us>
Subj: [kl] Gino Cioffi
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 12:14:05 -0400

Tony Pay
>Jim, thanks so much for the information about your collection.
>
>Mr. Cioffi, who is a member of this list, will doubtless be delighted
>that what you have to say about his performance is confined to that it
>"is quite flawed with intonation problems."
>
>Given what else I have heard of Gino Cioffi, I'd be very happy to hear
>this recording for what it might contribute to my ideas about Brahms.
>
>Tony
>--
>_________ Tony Pay

I believe Gino Cioffi passed away several years ago. I believe him to be on of the finest clarinetists of the 20th Century. He was principal of Boston from 1950-1970.
Before that, he was principal of the Met. I used to question some of the intonation on his Boston Symphony recordings until I found out how Leinsdorf (the conductor) treated
Mr. Cioffi. Leinsdorf created extremely bad working conditions for Cioffi.

The Brahms recording mentioned was a one-take recording made under less-than-ideal conditions. It's great for the reasons alluded to by Tony Pay.

Albert Hunt

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