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Recording the Weber Quintet as a Concerto

Author: J. J.
Date: 2007-05-01 14:28

In the last couple months, I have picked up recordings of Sabine Meyer and Martin Frost playing most of the Weber works for clarinet. On both of these recordings, the quintet is recorded as a concerto. The string sections, for the most part, play the string quartet parts as a section and the clarinet is the clearly defined soloist.

I can understand the rational behind this, as this particular quintet has always been a piece that is essentially written as "clarinet with string quartet accompaniment." Furthermore, I've always considered it Weber's best piece for clarinet from an intellectual and also purely aesthetic standpoint. Before I came across these recordings, I often wondered why people didn't just perform it as a concerto. Now I see it's being done.

Part of me wonders, though, if something is lost in viewing it as a concerto. While the quintet was never one for exciting interaction between players like the Mozart or Brahms Quintets, I feel as if playing it as a concerto loses some of its intimacy. It also lumps it into a category of Weber's music that is already saturated with clarinet and orchestra endeavors.

The recording I just obtained of Martin Frost is excellent. Top-notch playing as usual, just like the Sabien Meyer disc. These are major soloists today, particularly in Europe, and they made the decision to go this route.

What are your reactions?

-Jim

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