The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom
Date: 2002-08-27 21:00
Ah yes! Mozart's craazy work.
I hated it for years, but now I appreciate it.
So - What's your favourite recording?
Cheers,
Tom
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Author: Vic
Date: 2002-08-27 21:04
David Schifrin's version is best, IMHO. But there's some other great ones out there, for sure. Alfred Prinz did a magnificent job, also, but I still go with Schifrin. As a sidenote, I know that both Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw did it also, but I haven't heard either of them. They were great, but probably not the best on the Mozart.
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Author: Katie
Date: 2002-08-27 22:54
Marcellus's recording is my fav.
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Author: carmen izzo
Date: 2002-08-28 04:01
In my OPinion Marcellus should be the standard to go by. His sound mixed with his beautiful interpretation of the piece combine to an excellent performance. Too bad Larry Combs does not have a recording. When I heard him perform it, it was beautiful, and especially well done on a basset clarinet that I am sure he does not touch much.
Usually I am not a fan of the basset clarinet versions since the performers have such a harsh tone in that sub-chalemeau (SP?????) register. BUT! Mr. Comb's performance that I herad brought no less than a tear to my eye
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-08-28 15:33
My favorite is an old monaural version by Gervase de Peyer and Colin Davis with the LSO. He recorded it again in stereo with Peter Maag and the LSO, which is almost as good, and has the advantage of having been reissued.
Marcellus is, of course, essential. The Prinz recording is very fine. Both are available on a bargain labels.
You need at least one period-instrument recording. Antony Pay made a good one with the Academy of Ancient Music. I slightly prefer Erich Hoeprich with the Orchestra of the 18th Century.
Benny Goodman's recording is not perfect, but it has a jazz player's intimate understanding of harmony and how phrases should be shaped to fit. It's not my first choice, but it's still one that has to be listened to.
I know Artie Shaw recorded the Mozart Quintet. He played excerpts from it at the Clarinet Congress at Oberlin a few years ago. (I've been looking for a copy for years.) I don't think he recorded the Concerto.
Excellent modern basset clarinets versions that don't "honk" on the low notes include ones by Sabine Meyer, Michael Collins and David Shifrin.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-08-28 15:43
Sabine Meyer takes the recent recording at a clip and this on the Basset clarinet!
I really like the fact it is toally different from the whole days of tears thing that traditional romantic interpretations put on it...I also admire the Maag and dePeyer one....
Marclellus is nice in spite of the fact the microphones tend to not allow for a really hushed piannissimo to register.....
I also am quite fond of the recording of Paul Meyer...
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-08-28 17:04
Marcellus and Wright both top my list.
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Author: Jen
Date: 2002-08-28 17:42
Marcellus with the Cleveland Orchestra is amazing. They have very inexpensive CDs of the recording out now with Sony Classics.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-08-28 18:05
Ken...I totally agree with your assessment of the available and essential performances of the Mozart Concerto.
One additional performance which I find myself going back to, time and again, is the <b>first</b> rendition by Karl Leister. (he recorded the Mozart Concerto 4 different times) His first recording of this piece was in approximately 1963(?) and was with Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic. It was issued on a Deutsche Grammophon LP and I don't believe it ever made it to CD (at least I've never seen it).
I've always felt that Leister's subsequent 3 recordings of the Mozart never quite equaled his first attempt.
I actually asked Leister about this recording when I got to speak to him in New Orleans last summer. He told me that his ideas about Mozart have changed over his playing career, and that he never goes back and revisits an old recording. He did say that he will not be recording the Concerto (at least for now) any more times.
I definitely think his first attempt and interpretation was the definitive one for him...GBK
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Author: BP
Date: 2002-08-28 19:15
Hi GBK and others
I have that DG recording of Leister/Kubelik!
But it is now in a poor condition...
The old tape is almost dead.
But I love that one. I have listened to it a thousand times and I'm still doing times to times. Really good. So bright and humble.
I would be very pleased if I could have a good copy on a CD (from a fresh 33 vinyle, why not).
As a french clarinetist, I am very impressed by Michel Portal version, as well as all his recordings (Brahms, Poulenc, Boulez). Always very inventive and giving something completely new.
BP
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Author: Alan
Date: 2002-08-28 19:37
All the recordings mentioned so far that I've actually heard are, of course, terrific. But a special favorite of mine--maybe because it's the first one I ever heard--is the rendition by Bernard Walton and the Philharmonia Orchestra under Karajan from the 50's. The playing is both beutiful (in the English style, of course) and completely distinctive. Unfortunately the recording is not currently in print in any form. Too bad.
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Author: Jamie Talbot
Date: 2002-08-29 11:49
Jack Brymer with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Sir Colin Davis(1964)
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-08-29 12:45
I seemed to remeber my Lp of leister with Kubelik being far more interesting over the EMI leister recording with Karajan although the Karajan has some merits in being very objective and not wallowing in the music too much
I also liked Ozawa and Wright but I would sound like I am defending an old teacher...however the slow movement is very good here and the recording balances nicely judged by DG
Bernard Walton was an older player who I really admired..especially the style and poised quality of his phrasing
Brymer for some reason leaves me a little cold...yet he is sound musically and technicallly
Gerde Starke on Vox made an unbelievable recording on this label in the late 70s. I studied at a summer camp with him and could barely understsand his English or for that matter the German (which I was studying as a 2cd language for a while...)
Mike Collins recent basset version is truly a refined approach and good for studying the basset ....must admit I also like the approach he has to sound and nuance...lots of nice tapered phrase endings and good control over dynamics plus the recording allows for dynamics to register without that feeling it is an overproduced sound recrding....
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2002-08-30 11:53
wow, i'd love to hear a recording of Gerde Starke doing the Mozart!
donald
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