Classical Music for Aficionados

Elly Ameling had a truly gorgeous voice. I remember going to Edinburgh one festival to hear Bryn Terfel at The Usher Hall it was an absolutely first class night . The program was Winterise  and Die Schone Mullerin .

Thanks for the clip. Lovely voice. More than I can say about the clarinetist; no poetry in his playing and hesitant phrasing. Unfortunately, for me, this makes the overall performance a case of “how am I doing”, but without “how are we doing”.

Obviously, we all appreciate different qualities in players. I hope you don’t mind some thoughts Re your list of clarinetists. For whatever it may be worth, there is practically universal agreement among players of the instrument in the following regards. In fairness, players of the instrument react to certain aspects of playing that may or may not be priorities for others.

Karl Leister. Very fine player and one of my favorites. If not for his questionable and sometimes imprecise intonation, it would be a toss up for me between he and Wright. Lovely tone and overall musicianship.

Martin Frost. Absolute phenom on the clarinet. Incredible technique and capable of doing things on the instrument previously thought impossible to execute. I think the jury is still out as to how much depth there is in performances of works that don’t require that kind of virtuosity.

Jack Brymer. Fine player, but nothing particularly distinctive about his playing.

Richard Stolzman. Certain charm to his playing, but his playing is thought to be somewhat crass with unusual use of vibrato and unrefined tone. Not well regarded among players.

Here is Leister on Der Hiirt in a fairly well balanced ensemble performance. Still, for me, not on the level of the Wright/Valente. Questionable pitch, but lovely tone.

https://youtu.be/0xCIfvWrsBU

Curious, what did you mean by “slower than the Germans”? Leister actually plays the opening slower than Wright.

Thanks again for the clip.

Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Op. 129, D. 965 · Anna Lucia Richter
The clarinetist is not Leister tough....But he play well with the female voice...Not one beside the other...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi4czlJK5js

frogman, you are a music maker and a upper level one at that.
I’m just an old guy that has listened to a lot of music.I as much said my clarinet sucked , so Elly and Schubert is more than enough for me .I’m in 1% in love for Schubert and her.

Tone everyone can hear, only a star listener always hears pitch, someone
like Jim . I only said Stolzman was good because he was American. I could take him or leave him , he was the star for years.
My jury is in for Frost he plays like he wrote the music .

Had do, he knew how it really should be .

Jack is my uncle , at least I think he was.


I was always listening to Karl’s tone , he could give the conductor what he wanted with a blink of an eye.Makes me feel better than any other I have heard on his instrument Simple.

Thank you for your class . I truly appreciate them .

Jim , your fantastic good taste is beyond belief .

If I did not know that every day you are made ever better and better by the tonic of Scottish breezes off Scottish waters   I would be jealous !