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

[Bryn]

Any week without at least some Mozart is pretty cheap, by my reckoning.

[Oh, and could the listed entry for Deinzer be amended to reflect that he used a basset clarinet? Indeed he was the first to record the work using such an instrument. Not my first choice, but of some historical interest.]

[Barbirollians]

I thought that was a terrific BAL lots of versions played and all types analysed and I had already ordered the winner after the extract from the Adagio . An example of how it should be done .

[MickyD]

But no mention of the Pay/Hogwood version. Very strange, when so many of us love it.

[Bryn]

I missed the first 20 minutes, but what I did hear was indeed a very fine example of the genre. I have now added Wolfgang's to Sabine's. Previously I was a Payed up member of the Hogwood supporters' club. [Coat off peg.]

[vinteuil]

I I have now added Wolfgang's

... and available at an absurdly low price -

http://amzn.eu/8qp5Eaz

[ardcarp]

A ggod BAL, I thought. Surprised no mention of Andrew Marriner's version with Dad...but there's so many versions out there. Having mentioned that the finale of Brymer's (LSO recording?) was rather stately, she went on to recommend Bliss which, to my ears anyway, used the same or even slightly slower tempo. I don't think I'll rush to buy a new CD....the concerto lives in my head anyway as an amalgam of several discs I've got.

[MickyD]

... and available at an absurdly low price -

http://amzn.eu/8qp5Eaz

Yes, I nabbed one at about £4 this morning...and it's always good to add another Harnoncourt recording to the shelves!

[visualnickmos]

A ggod BAL, I thought. Surprised no mention of Andrew Marriner's version with Dad...but there's so many versions out there. Having mentioned that the finale of Brymer's (LSO recording?) was rather stately, she went on to recommend Bliss which, to my ears anyway, used the same or even slightly slower tempo. I don't think I'll rush to buy a new CD....the concerto lives in my head anyway as an amalgam of several discs I've got.

I thought very much along the same lines. I concur with your last sentence.
For me, Gervase de Peyer's version (Maag, as opposed to Anthony Collins which was my first experience of this masterpiece) is the most moving and heartfelt, which I feel is the essence of the work. Mr de Peyer is sheer perfection, here.

[Dave2002]

I thought (unless I missed it) there were no real "authentic" performances. Perhaps Harnoncourt's was closest. I was surprised at the comments regarding the excerpt I heard of Martin Fröst's last movement - with very interesting dynamics and at quite a speed. To say that wasn't Mozart seems silly to me, as it brought out the flavour of Mannheim - which Mozart adopted earlier.

Maybe there are major flaws in that performance overall - but on the basis of what I heard I'd favour that over bland any day. I do like Julian Bliss, but not enough to want to rush out and buy his to me blander performance. I shall try to find Fröst's on a streaming service and listen again.

http://open.qobuz.com/album/7318599912639 Qobuz version.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I thought (unless I missed it) there were no real "authentic" performances. Perhaps Harnoncourt's was closest.

But is it possible to create a "real" authentic performance when there is no manuscript?

[Tony Halstead]

But is it possible to create a "real" authentic performance when there is no manuscript?

I suspect that what Dave 2002 meant was that 'period instrument' performances were hardly mentioned.

Ms Devonald is a 'modern' oboist (who once played 'under my baton' , very beautifully, about 30-odd years ago!) when not being a BBC presenter, so it's possible or even likely that she has little (if no) sympathy for period instruments.

IMV, Wolfgang Meyer's recording , despite the 'benevolance' of Harnoncourt, is simply less appealing than those of our UK 'hipp players' Colin Lawson and Antony Pay.

[Pianorak]

But no mention of the Pay/Hogwood version. Very strange, when so many of us love it.

Yep - another Payed up member!

[Barbirollians]

I suspect that what Dave 2002 meant was that 'period instrument' performances were hardly mentioned.

Ms Devonald is a 'modern' oboist (who once played 'under my baton' , very beautifully, about 30-odd years ago!) when not being a BBC presenter, so it's possible or even likely that she has little (if no) sympathy for period instruments.

IMV, Wolfgang Meyer's recording , despite the 'benevolance' of Harnoncourt, is simply less appealing than those of our UK 'hipp players' Colin Lawson and Antony Pay.

She was complimentary about the Meyer as her period choice . I note that the Pay was not mentioned but I recall that Gramophone were sniffy about the Lawson not due to his playing but an intrusive harpsichord continuo much preferring Hogwood on the fortepiano .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I recall that Gramophone were sniffy about the Lawson not due to his playing but an intrusive harpsichord continuo much preferring Hogwood on the fortepiano.

Well I'm very sniffy about either, as there's no continuo part in the score and no figured bass of any kind. The orchestral parts are complete in themselves, and today's musicians don't needed a play-along keyboard player to keep them together.

[Dave2002]

I suspect that what Dave 2002 meant was that 'period instrument' performances were hardly mentioned.

Ms Devonald is a 'modern' oboist (who once played 'under my baton' , very beautifully, about 30-odd years ago!) when not being a BBC presenter, so it's possible or even likely that she has little (if no) sympathy for period instruments.

IMV, Wolfgang Meyer's recording , despite the 'benevolance' of Harnoncourt, is simply less appealing than those of our UK 'hipp players' Colin Lawson and Antony Pay.

That is close to what I intended. I was suggesting that it would be interesting to hear some genuinely old instruments being played - both by the soloist and the rest of the orchestra, or if that is not possible, then reasonable reproductions of old instruments. Of course they may sound dreadful - but at least it would have been an interesting comparison. Sometimes there are huge differences in the sound of old instruments compared with modern ones. Flutes for example can give a much louder sound today than older flutes would, but the old flutes almost certainly have a gentler timbre. I think similar considerations apply to many instruments. Old clarinets and oboes may sound 'reedier'. There would presumably be very little clattering of keys for some early instruments, as many simply had holes covered by the fingers, and where there were keys the fingering would be different from modern instruments.

Maybe there aren't any recordings of Mozart's "clarinet" concerto played on the types of instrument I'm thinking of. I'm not sure if it's possible.