Our Summer BAL 55: Reger Clarinet Sonatas, opp49/1, 49/2, 107

[CallMePaul]

I don't think there has ever been a BAL devoted to these, or for that matter any other works by Max Reger. These sonatas are well-known to clarinettists but are rarely performed live or broadcast. So when researching this I was surprised to find so many available versions: -

Eduard Brunner/ Gerhard Oppitz (download)
Michael Collins/ Michael McHale
Claudio Conti/ Roberta Bambace
Nicholas Cox/ Vanessa Latarche (op 107 only)
Dietrich Hahn/ Daniella Ballek (download)
Ib Hausmann/ Nina Tichmann
Florent Héau/ Patrick Zygmanowski (op 49 only)
Janet Hilton/ Jakob Fichert
Alan R Kay/ Jon Klibonoff
Csaba Klenyán/ Gabor Csalog
Dieter Klocker/ Sandra Arnold (op 107 only)
Thomas Lindhorst/ Hiroko Arimoto (download)
Robert Oberaigner/ Michael Schoch
David Odom/ Jeremy Samolesky (download)
Stephan Siegenthaler/ Kolja Lessing
Charles Stier/ William Bloomquist (op 107 only)
Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer/ Hans Eijsackers
David Wright/ Gregory Davis (op 49/1 only)
John Bruce Yeh/ Easley Blackwood (op 107 only)

There are also 3 recordings on viola and one of op 107 on violin. Despite the number of available recordings, I note that several leading clarinettists (Jack Brymer, Gervase dePeyer, the Meyer siblings, Julian Bliss, Martin Frost and Emma Johnson to name but a few) have not tackled the works, at least on disc. The centenary last year of Reger's death prompted a number of recordings of his work, including the Collins, Conti and Kay versions of these sonatas.

After listening to extacts from several versions on the Presto website, I bought the Conti/ Bambace version earlier this year. The balance favours the clarinet more than I would have expected (and more than is usual in, say, the Brahms sonatas which influenced op 49) and I was a little disturbed by Conti's intonation in some of the high notes in op 49/2. These made me wonder whether Conti played a Bb clarinet in this, when surely a sonata in F# minor demands the A clarinet. Other than these fairly minor gripes I have enjoyed the recording, but I would like to read others' opinions of these works and their recordings.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I keep trying to love Reger, and one (cheapo!) attempt has been the purchase of the Naxos Hilton/Fichert disc.

Sadly, it didn't do very much for me and I didn't feel this was due to deficiencies in the performances. Could be wrong though - I have no basis for comparison in other live or recorded performances

[Richard Barrett]

I can't help you there, Paul, except to point out that the names of two of the clarinettists are actually Eduard Brunner and Dieter Klöcker.

[CallMePaul]

I can't help you there, Paul, except to point out that the names of two of the clarinettists are actually Eduard Brunner and Dieter Klöcker.

Corrected: thanks for pointing out mistakes made when typing quickly

[verismissimo]

Hurrah for Reger - especially the chamber music!

[jayne lee wilson]

Love the orchestral works, for which I conceive a mad sporadic obsession every few years. My neglect of the chamber music is thus shameful.... one day, when I have world enough and time. Interesting thread though, thanks...

[verismissimo]

Love the orchestral works, for which I conceive a mad sporadic obsession every few years. My neglect of the chamber music is thus shameful.... one day, when I have world enough and time. Interesting thread though, thanks...

Ihave similar behaviours, Jayne. And this thread is prompting another bout. So, this morning: Clarinet Quintet with Leister / Vogler Quartet, then Mozart Variations with Russian State SO / Polyansky.