Composer: Carl Maria von Weber
Performer: Sabine Meyer
Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden, Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn
Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt, Jörg Faerber
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Release: 2003
Size: 316 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 73, J. 114
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Adagio ma non troppo
03. III. Rondo. Allegretto
Clarinet Concertino in E-Flat Major, Op. 26, J. 109
04. I. Adagio ma non troppo
05. II. Andante
06. III. Rondo. Allegretto
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 74, J. 118
07. I. Allegro
08. II. Romanza. Andante
09. III. Alla polacca
Clarinet Quintet in B flat major, J182, Op.34 (Version for string orchestra)
10. I: Allegro
11. II: Fantasia – Adagio ma non troppo
12. III: Menuetto Capriccio – Presto
13. IV: Rondo – Allegro giocoso
Right after Mozart and Brahms, every clarinet player’s favorite composer is Weber. He wrote a delightful concertino, an exquisite quintet, and not one but two terrific concertos for them. Each one is unique, wonderful, and extremely gratifying to play. Gratifying, that is, for those who can play them: Weber’s works for clarinet are amazingly difficult to play at all and even more difficult to perform with the bravura virtuosity they demand. Sabine Meyer’s 1985 recordings of Weber’s clarinet works were controversial in their time — some thought her too dramatic, some too polished, some too reserved — but time was on Meyer’s side and her performances have come to be regarded as classic recordings, poised, polished, and yet still passionate. But even at the time, Meyer’s performances were recognized for their virtuosity and expressivity and even those who couldn’t warm to her interpretations had to acknowledge her technical brilliance and tonal beauty. Re-mastered and re-issued in 2003, Meyer’s performances sound better than they ever have, with the slight glare of EMI’s early digital sound reduced and the presence of the instruments increased.