SearchsearchUseruser

Brahms: 2 Clarinet Sonatas, Clarinet Trio - Fröst, Pöntinen, Thedéen

Brahms: 2 Clarinet Sonatas, Clarinet Trio - Fröst, Pöntinen, Thedéen

BIS  BIS-SACD-1353

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Chamber


Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas Op. 120 Nos. 1 & 2, Clarinet Trio Op. 114

Martin Fröst, clarinet
Roland Pöntinen, piano
Torleif Thedéen, cello


On it’s release, Martin Fröst’s recording of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (BIS-SACD-1263) received glowing reviews. The magazine Classica-Répertoire named it the finest recording ever of the concerto after performing a blind test involving no less than 50 interpretations of the work. And the critic in International Record Review agreed with his French colleagues when he wrote: ‘Better recorded performances of these towering masterpieces may exist, but I have never heard them. In their technical proficiency, style consciousness and broad, yet never exaggerated emotional range, they shine as major achievements.’

Martin Fröst now continues his survey of the core clarinet repertoire with Brahms’ autumnal works for the instrument. Composed towards the end of Brahms’ life, the trio and two sonatas on this disc are the fruits of the meeting between a composer who feared that he had lost his inspiration, and a great musician who helped him find it again. Richard Mühlfeld was the favourite clarinettist of both Richard Wagner and Hans von Bülow, but these works by Brahms are surely the most impressive testimonial to his musicianship.

For this recording, Fröst is partnered by his regular collaborator Roland Pöntinen at the piano – a team which was highly praised for their Schumann recording a couple of years ago, BIS-CD-944, of which the reviewer in Répertoire wrote: ‘An hour of sheer happiness … Seemingly effortlessly the musicians find the same words, the same accents, the same sighs, that common way of thinking which is the mark of all great recordings of chamber music. A luminous Schumann.’

Eminent cellist Torleif Thedéen makes up the numbers in the trio, in which the central episode of the third movement, a dialogue between the clarinet and cello, was described by Brahms’s friend Eusebius Mandyczewski as sounding ‘as if the instruments were in love with each other’.

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

bol.com
 
jpc
Presto

Add to your wish list | library

 

15 of 17 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Recording
show
hide
PCM recording
Reviews (1)
show
hide

Review by John Broggio - December 11, 2005

A mainly wonderful disc of some of Brahms' finest chamber music.

The clarinet sonatas are sometimes heard in a guise (sanctioned by Brahms) with the viola taking the limelight, here though they are presented as originally intended.

In the first sonata, the Allegro appassionato quickly builds a sense of drama without either Fröst or Pöntinen indulging in histrionics. The Andante un poco Adagio opens with a touching sense of, well almost emotional emptiness as though the struggles of the first movement were too much. The following Allegretto grazioso (a pseudo-Waltz) emerges as if Brahms had recovered from his attack of melancholy and was overcome with joy. The concluding finale here dances away without a care in the world in this performance - not too fast but very light on its feet! Whoever says that Brahms doesn't make them smile should listen to Fröst & Pöntinen play this movement.

The second sonata opens with a gentle smile on its (musical) face and is an absolute joy for clarinet and piano fans alike. The second movement is another pseudo-Waltz but marked appassionato instead of grazioso (a mood which surprises one after the sunny opening). The third movement (Andante con moto - Allegro) has a track for each tempo, a nice touch so that one can quickly find the transition point.

The concluding trio, is a more sombre affair than either of the sonatas, opening with a plaintive cello melody before an edgy piano & clarinet motive makes an appearance. It is more overtly dramatic than the sonatas and makes a welcome contrast. The Adagio is taken a bit too quickly for my liking (they take it at one-in-a-bar so it becomes almost like a waltz) and the succeeding Andantino grazioso, though very well played, is then a bit too similar in character. The Allegro finale is again very turbulent and is very well played.

The engineering is superb for all pieces, though we are placed towards the front of the hall - the clarinet sounds of blowing are very clear!

(Purchased)

Copyright © 2005 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Stereo):

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars stars
Comments (1)
show
hide

Comment by oliver_twist - June 20, 2016 (1 of 1)

I would not recommend to choose this recording to people that are looking for a clear and clean clarinet sound. Here the clarinet is recorded very closely and all the mouth air noise is very audible.