BaL 25.03.17 - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A (K.622)

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 17-03-17, 12:22

I'm going to miss this one, being on the train to Manchester at the time of the broadcast.

It should be fascinating. There are quite a few basset clarinet recordings nowadays, but I wonder how many players would buy one. They are hugely expensive and are of quite limited use.

**CallMePaul** · 17-03-17, 12:29

According to the sleeve info, Sabine Meyer plays basset on both her recordings.

**pastoralguy** · 17-03-17, 12:52

Bravo on the list, Alpie!

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 17-03-17, 13:19

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

I'm going to miss this one, being on the train to Manchester at the time of the broadcast.
It should be fascinating.

Yes - why a train service that stops at Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Stalybridge, and Manchester calls itself the "Transpennine Express" does make for a thoughtful journey!

**vinteuil** · 17-03-17, 14:10

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

Joy Farrall, Divertimenti, Nicholas Daniel

... there is also Joy Farrall [basset clarinet] with the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury -

http://amzn.eu/fWGon1F

( ... me, I'm happy with Pay / AAM

)

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 17-03-17, 15:07

Originally posted by vinteuil

... there is also Joy Farrall [basset clarinet] with the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury -

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 17-03-17, 15:13

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

Yes - why a train service that stops at Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Stalybridge, and Manchester calls itself the "Transpennine Express" does make for a thoughtful journey!

It's a lot faster than it used to be (70 minutes Leeds-Manchester in 1968).

**Cockney Sparrow** · 17-03-17, 15:13

Originally posted by vinteuil View Post

... there is also Joy Farrall [basset clarinet] with the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury -

http://amzn.eu/fWGon1F

( ... me, I'm happy with Pay / AAM

)

Absolutely - taught me not to despise Classic FM branded CDs on principle (like many rulings from the Supreme Court - I have to take them on a case by case basis!).

**MickyD** · 17-03-17, 16:25

Originally posted by vinteuil View Post

... there is also Joy Farrall [basset clarinet] with the Britten Sinfonia, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury -

http://amzn.eu/fWGon1F

( ... me, I'm happy with Pay / AAM

)

Me too, although I have also heard good things about the Meyer/VCM/Harnoncourt...do you know it, Vints?

**pastoralguy** · 17-03-17, 16:28

I suspect that trying to find a BAD one amongst that list would be a challenge.

Mind you, Brymer and the wonderful Sabine Mayer for me.

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 17-03-17, 16:41

Originally posted by pastoralguy View Post

I suspect that trying to find a BAD one amongst that list would be a challenge.

Mind you, Brymer and the wonderful Sabine Mayer for me.

I would select Emma Johnson and Jack Brymer as the no-go area. Both are blatant wobblers.

The best performance I ever heard live was by Janet Hilton. I was at that legendary performance in Manchester Town Hall with the BBC Northern Orchestra as it was being broadcast live as a weekly "lunchtime prom". The fact that she appears never to have recorded K.622 is regrettable.

**Tony Halstead** · 17-03-17, 20:15

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

I would select Emma Johnson and Jack Brymer as the no-go area. Both are blatant wobblers.

The best performance I ever heard live was by Janet Hilton. I was at that legendary performance in Manchester Town Hall with the BBC Northern Orchestra as it was being broadcast live as a weekly "lunchtime prom". The fact that she appears never to have recorded K.622 is regrettable.

Yes, 'regrettable' is surely an understatement that needs to be qualified by the word 'deeply'!
I was at music college with Janet in the early-to-mid 1960s and I must confess to being very much in awe of her total mastery of the instrument plus her winning, engaging personality. I was lucky enough to play 2nd horn in the RMCM Chamber Orchestra for several concerts in which Janet played K622 wonderfully.
Returning to the huge list of recorded versions, I must say, they need to be re-categorised ( with all due respect to EA's herculean efforts!) into:
1) 'Modern' performances using a modern 'A' clarinet whose lowest note is a ( concert pitch) C# a 7th below 'middle C';

2) 'Modern' performances using a modern 'A' 'basset clarinet whose lowest note is A an octave and a minor 3rd below middle C;

3) 'HIPP' performances using a lower pitched (A =430) authentic 'A' basset clarinet (probably made of boxwood) whose lowest note is an A an octave and a minor 3rd below 'middle C'.

Within those 3 categories there must surely be further sub-categories of
A) 'Wobblers'

and
B) 'Straight toned' players.

Oh dear, what a can of worms...!

**Barbirollians** · 17-03-17, 21:25

Thea King on the basset clarinet for me - though I have a longstanding love of the Brymer/Beecham no matter how " wrong it is . Joy Farrall's recording is very good too

**richardfinegold** · 17-03-17, 23:29

Another Carpal Tunnel stresser for Alpie.
I have many versions, some acquired as recently as part of large box purchases that I haven't gotten around to auditioning. My perennial favorite has been Pay/Hogwood ( Bless You Tony) but I also have the two Martin Frost versions. Whenever possible I prefer the Basset Clarinet.

BaL 25.03.17 - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A (K.622)

BaL 25.03.17 - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A (K.622)

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