On a binge for clarinetists of late!

[Lance]

I have long loved the art of classical clarinetists Thea King, Jack Brymer, Jon Manasse, Dieter Klocker, Sabine Meyer, David Shifrin, Michael Collins, Reginald Kell, Richard Stoltzman, Karl Leister, Gervase de Peyer, Emma Johnson, and many, many others, to be sure.

Some of the newer ones include Robert Spring, Louis Cahuzac, and the latest of all, Charles Stier, the later who has made less than a half dozen recordings, but each one I've heard, is a real gem, with three of them for the Elan label. Stier has dug into some music not well known for the clarinet, such as Neils W. Gade's Fantasistykker, Op. 43, three pieces by Max Reger, not to mention his clarinet sonata, and an exciting album of encores ["Cameos"]. Other items include Brahms' two Op. 120 clarinet sonatas, Schumann's Fantasiestucke, Op. 73 and von Weber's Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 48. The pianists include William Bloomquist, and Molly Newton, outstanding collaborative artists. The Washington Post called Stier's playing "Sheer inspiration ... [noted for its] splendidly mellow tone and exemplary musicianship" Indeed, one immediately is graced by his rich tone, and wonderful sense of pitch. His instruments were custom designed made for him by the German craftsman, Herbert Wurlitzer. Stier has his doctor degree from the University of Maryland, and teaches privately and at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Highly recommended.

[John F]

I guess you mean Louis Cahuzac is new to you. Among those you listed he's one of the oldest, born in 1880. His recording of the Nielsen concerto was the first I had of the piece, but I don't have it any longer as others on records have played it better.

[david johnson]

I have known many fine playing clarinetists. They all wanted to sound like Robert Marcellus

[diegobueno]

Don't forget Ricardo Morales among contemporary clarinetists. His playing is just about flawless -- in recent years one might even say too flawless. But his recording of Bartok's Contrasts, for one, is perfection itself.

[diegobueno]

Stier has dug into some music not well known for the clarinet, such as Neils W. Gade's Fantasistykker, Op. 43, three pieces by Max Reger, not to mention his clarinet sonata,

If the disc you're thinking of is the same as the one I am, Stier recorded the 3rd of Reger's 3 clarinet sonatas, the op. 107, on a disc with the Brahms F minor sonata, op. 120 no. 1. I haven't heard this disc. I think the op. 107 is the best of Reger's clarinet sonatas.

[mikealdren]

Hi Lance,
try Martin Fröst, not sure of he's really made it across the Atlantic but he's a simply sensational performer and his CDs are marvellous too.

Mike

[Ricordanza]

Don't forget Ricardo Morales among contemporary clarinetists. His playing is just about flawless -- in recent years one might even say too flawless.

I'm lucky to hear him live on many occasions, since he's the principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Most recently, he was the outstanding soloist in a performance of Leonard Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue and Riffs.

[John F]

Ricardo Morales began in the Metropolitan Opera orchestra as one of its principal clarinets. Those who came before and after him are excellent too - Anthony McGill, now principal with the New York Philharmonic, and previously Joseph Rabbai, who also played in the Mostly Mozart orchestra during the summer. The Met has been a breeding ground for outstanding wind players, including John Ferrillo, now principal oboe of the Boston Symphony. It's not for nothing that the Met orchestra is so outstanding in its own right.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems to me that at least in the US and the UK, the clarinet has had more top-class players than the other wind instruments. Could be the nature of the instrument, I suppose, though I don't know why.

[Lance]

Another superb clarinetist is local, Dr. Timothy B. Perry. Recently, I prepared a piano for him and his illustrious piano collaborator, Pej Reitz, for a Sunday afternoon recital at our Phelps Mansion Museum in Binghamton, New York. The program was absolutely incredible and greatly appreciated by the audience. They ended their recital with a request from me, and dedicated it to yours truly, a vaudeville-type piece, "Guisganderie" by Faustis and Maurice Jeanjean, a real tour de force for clarinet and piano alike. We are so fortunate to have such artists in our midst! Perry arranged his program into sections: EPOCHS: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century and after intermission, MODERN GENRES: Jazz, Latin, Eastern European, Mixed Media, Klezmer, and Vaudeville, and prefaced the selections with commentary to the delight of the well-packed audience who also enjoyed a magnificent reception with food galore!

[Lance]

Hi John, I certainly know Louis Cahuzac and have a few of his recordings of which I've been paying more attention to of late. The 1947 British Columbia recording you refer to was, apparently, the first recording ever made of the work. It has since been transferred to an excellent two-CD set on the Danacord CD label [722-723] along with many other of his recordings.

I guess you mean Louis Cahuzac is new to you. Among those you listed he's one of the oldest, born in 1880. His recording of the Nielsen concerto was the first I had of the piece, but I don't have it any longer as others on records have played it better.