 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-27 19:54
The Mozart Flute Concertos and Concerto for Clarinet CD I ordered last week finally arrived today. I've just finished listening to tracks seven to nine to hear Marcellus/Szell playing the three movements of K622. Now I see what all of you meant when you were talking about his tone. He really does make a terrific nice soft sound and makes it feel very easy.
The Allegro and Adagio were perfect. But I was dissapointed by the Rondo. His tone here was too soft for this piece, and not flashy enough. Not mention how much he slurred. So while Marcellus has set the standard for the first two movements, Sabine Meyer's performance of the Rondo remains my favorite recording for the closing movement. Meyer's playing was flashy, and yet she still has her famous dark tone. I could recognize Sabine Meyer anytime, but Marcellus doesn't have too big of a signature sound that I expected.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-01-27 20:15
"...But I was dissapointed by the Rondo. His tone here was too soft for this piece, and not flashy enough..."
Don't you blaspheme in here!!!
I guess we all judge by the rendition we "grew up on." For me it was Marcellus.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-27 20:17
ALOMARvelous....There is so much more to Robert Marcellus than that one snapshot in time (Mozart K.622).
Your assignment: Listen to his artistry on the Mendelssohn Symphonies #3 and #4, Midsummernight's Dream, the Schubert Octet and Rosemunde, the Brahms Symphonies (especially #3), Beethoven #6 and #8 and First Piano Concerto, Waldweben, etc..etc..etc..
Serious clarinet study involves varied listening to a number of artists in repertoire from different eras,
Bravo on acquiring his performance of the Mozart, but your journey with Robert Marcellus has just begun...GBK
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-01-27 20:26
Might I also add Cleveland's recording of Wagner's "Music from 'The Ring'." Especially "Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla" and "Forest Murmurs."
Also, I've just now found the Cleveland box set of the 9 Beethoven symphonies. The Pastoral (#6) is wonderful. I'll "blaspheme" a little here and say that Mvt. 1 is a little slower than I like, but Marcellus' solo near the end is a lesson in staccato done to perfection.
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-27 20:29
Hey, I'm no person to be able to judge classical music, but I'm not a person who could be easily subjected to bias either. So, I could only honestly say that his Rondo was an above average performance, but nothing more, while I believe Sabine Meyer's Rondo with Claudio Abbado the Berlin Philharmonice was truly outstanding.
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Author: James
Date: 2003-01-27 21:13
Arg! For some odd reason that gets me quite irrated, marcellus not having a signature sound. His sound is beautiful and sweet. He doesn't have to be flashy or do other things to gain attention into his sound. I think of it as somewhat simple but in a way that simple is the best. He plays mozart with such purity, especially in the rondo.
I think a lot of people try to tounge the fast articulation in the mozart just to prove that they can do it. I bet you marcellus could of done it too but he chose to take a route which he felt was more musical.
-James
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-27 21:29
James, remember I've only heard the CD only once. I'm listening to it a second time right now and it does seem better. Is Marcellus one of the ones I will appreciate more and more as I listen to him more? And by saying he played the Rondo "with such purity", what did you mean?
I've always thought that this movement offered the biggest chance to show off virtuosity and that this movement was the easiest one to intrepret into your own. However, I felt Marcellus didn't take that oppurtunity to its fullest.
Marcellus has beautiful sound, that's for sure, possibly one of the most beautiful sounds ever. but i personally think that's different from having a signature sound. like i said, i could recognize meyer whenever. but if someone just hands me a disc and tells me to listen and asks me if it is marcellus, I'm not 100% sure I could answer.
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2003-01-27 22:35
It's all a matter of interpretation. I love Sabine Meyer's rendition. She is dynamic. Marcellus has taken what I call a "chamber approach". I prefer the lighter, sweeter interpretation. Of course, it depends on my mood. Both artists are superb clarinetists. But then, Marcellus taught my teacher...
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-28 13:15
I completely agree with you, Sandra. I love Marcellus' light approach for the Allegro and the Adagio. But I like Meyer's Rondo more than the Marcellus Rondo. Personally, I feel the Rondo is not a time for getting sweet and light, but a time for having fun and showing off. Sabine Meyer did just that, and at the same time keeping her famous dark tone we all know and love.
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Author: Nick
Date: 2003-01-28 14:41
I have a recording of Sabine Meyer playing the concerto (on the same CD is the premiere rhapsodie and takematsu's fantasma/cosmos). The third movement she played on the Mozart is the best I've heard yet, but I was dissapointed with the second movement--I think it was played way too fast, although the sound was amazing.
Does anyone else here agree with me that most of the recordings of the Mozart concerto take the second movement too fast? Some time I would like to hear it played really slow, like a largo.
I still haven't ordered the Marcellus.. can someone post the link to the site to order it? It was posted a few weeks ago, I think, but I can't find it.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2003-01-28 15:26
The Marcellus/Szell pairing is fantastic. The first time I heard it I marvelled at the beauty of it. It only gets better with time. I don't think that the approach is about flash. It is like the difference between some of the fine French wines that are subtle, refined and with great depth and some from California that are huge and hit you over the head. It depends on what you are looking for. I do think that Marcellus has one of the most distinct tones out there and have not heard anyone who comes close.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-01-28 17:05
Nick wrote: "Does anyone else here agree with me that most of the recordings of the Mozart concerto take the second movement too fast? Some time I would like to hear it played really slow, like a largo."
Nick, I have to disagree with you. Firstly, Largo doesn't mean "slow", it means "broad". Secondly, the Adagio of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto is generally played too fast. In the time of Mozart, the slower tempi were not as slow as they are today. These "slow" tempo designations gradually increased in performance speed during the 19th century. Anton Stadler probably played it much faster than we do today. The fastest recording I've heard is by Eric Hoeprich and the Orchestra of the Old Fairfield Academy, were he plays at about quarter=56!
However, you are of course entitled to your own taste! The slowest recordings I've heard are by Jost Michaels with the Westphalian Symphony Orchestra, and John McCaw with the New Philharmonia Orchestra. They drag it out at about quarter=38. John McCaw is one of my favourite clarinet players, but I really can't get my head around his Mozart Adagio. The tempo is so slow that he has to really overdo the rubato to give the movement any life. The effect, rather than being serene and spiritual, is erratic and unsettling. Proof (for me at least) that this tempo is much too slow! However, I still enjoy listening to his lovely tone and breathtaking legato. Perhaps this is the recording that you are looking for? You can find it, paired with the Nielsen concerto, at Clarinet Books and More, one of the sponsors of this site.
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Author: Nick
Date: 2003-01-28 18:03
Thanks for the suggestions, Liquorice.. I will look into them!
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2003-01-29 16:08
...I was talking about the Rondo! I still prefer the sweeter, light approach. It fits better with the mood of the whole piece. Very Mozartian... It is so easy for us all to sit back, stick on a cd and criticize the pros, isn't it!? Warmly, Sandra
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-01-29 16:21
You know the joke about how many sax players it takes to change a light bulb (12 -- one to change it and 11 to comment on how David Sanborn would have done it). I think it can be modified for clarinetists by swapping Sanborn with Marcellus.
I know I'm guilty of it.›
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