Search - Carl Maria von Weber, James Conlon, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra :: Weber: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Grand Duo Concertante; Concertino

Good Basic Weber CD

Donald G. Hite III | Houston, Tx USA | 09/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Boeyken's rendition of the Weber pieces are very good. I may agree with a previous poster that the performances aren't spectacularly exciting. However, as a clarinetist I've played and heard these pieces performed so many times that it would be next to impossible to create a "ground-breaking" recording, no matter how hard the clarinetist tries. That being said, Boeyken's renditions are very pleasant and played with technical perfection. They will not disappoint.



I personally like Paul Meyer's rendition of Grand Duo Concertante. It is quite fast, so many passages that might be intricately phrased at a slower tempo are just torn through by Meyer, but if you are looking for a technically impressive performance, this will do.



At the price, this is a great CD, especially for someone wanting to hear the Concerti played in a conservative style. My favorite Weber Concerti is Sabine Meyer's on EMI (her interpretations are much more daring than Boeykens), so you might check that out also. Any music fan's CD library should have enough room for many renditions of these famous staples from the clarinet world."

Fast and Furious

Ashley Mozart | Perth, Western Australia | 12/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard many recording of the Grand Duo Concertant, but nothing compares to this. Despite an almost doubling of tempo during the final section of the last movement, Meyer never foresakes musicianship in favour of egotstic technical display. When I showed this recording to my accompanist, her ears almost melted at the pianists ability to perform the descending thirds quickly and with technical ease. The phrasing, dynamic and technical control displayed in the outer movements of the F minor concerto is quite unreal. The contrast in tone colours captured in the secoond movement lifts this work from its ninteenth century context to something that is quite modern and surreal.
This is a watershed recording, and a budget one too!!! For a quality recording such as this, I would not hesitate to pay four times what I paid for this CD. With this recording, Meyer takes these Weber works musically and technically beyond what anyone else has done before."

An absolute steal!

Ashley Mozart | 04/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What you get for $6 is absolutely amazing! Walter Boeykens takes the Weber Clarinet Concerti to new heights. In particular, his playing during the alla polacca of the Concerto in E-flat Major is nothing short of supberb. It is the most effortless version of these pieces that I have ever heard. I am buying more of these for family members; it's probably the best-valued clarinet CD out there today."