Francaix, Nielsen: Clarinet Concertos

[maestrob]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZLYKExSG2Q

This new recording presents two 20th century Clarinet Concertos, by Carl Nielsen and Jean Francaix, each a masterwork in their genre.

The Clarinet Concerto by Danish composer Carl Nielsen was premiered in 1928 by Aagen Oxenvad, dedicatee of the work, and who was also closely involved in the creation of the work. It is a bold, highly expressive and virtuoso work, full of extreme contrasts so characteristic of Nielsen. It became a cornerstone of the repertoire.

Enjoy!

[Heck148]

The Nielsen Clarinet Concerto certainly is a tour de force for the soloist.....very challenging...

Stanley Drucker's account with Bernstein/NYPO was the standard for as long time...now there are many others...supposedly Stanley did this on one take - Bernstein asked him if he wanted to re-take any passages, Drucker replied that he was all set, but the orchestra had a few places to touch up!! lol!!
John Bruce Yeh [Eb clar/associate principal of Chicago] made a fine recording of it on a CSO soloists release...
one to avoid is Benny Goodman, with Gould/CSO from the 60s....they never should have released this one....Benny gives it his best, but he simply can't play the piece, so many problems....
It was originally released with a stunning Nielsen Sym #2 with Gould CSO [recently released on complete Gould/CSO set - the best sounding re-masterings I've heard of these] - knockout performance, still the best, imo - intense, zippy tempos, powerful....

[diegobueno]

Ditto everything Heck has said.

I heard the amazing Ricardo Morales play this concerto with an orchestra from one of the military services. The orchestra did so-so, but Morales was brilliant. For one section involving a lengthy stream of really fast staccato notes (accompanied only by the snare drum) he actually sped the tempo up from whatever the conductor wound up with.

Nielsen and Francaix have the reputation of being the most difficult clarinet concertos in the repertory, but some more contemporary works, such as the ones by John Corigliano and Magnus Lindberg, are also serious contenders for the title.

[maestrob]

I've heard this recording only once, and plan to return to it before submitting a review. Drucker's superb recording with Bernstein has been in my library since its first release on LP. Not being a clarinetist, I feel I may not be qualified to pass judgement here, but I was very impressed by this album on first hearing.

I agree about the Benny Goodman recording now, but I was impressed by it in my early years, at least until I heard Stanley Drucker, who has so much more ease in his playing.