Dieter Klöcker

MDG is now reissuing a recording that sold out on its first release some years ago. Together with Karl-Otto Hartmann, Dieter Klocker’s bassoon colleague in the Consortium Classicum, the energetic virtuoso performs double concertos by Franz Danzi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, accompanied by the Suk Chamber Orchestra of Prague in top form.

The attraction of Antonio Salieri’s musico-dramatic oeuvre lies in its equal measure of virtuosity, sensibility and comedy, and all of these ingredients are found in the wind band arrangements from three of his operas recorded here. In his La grotto di Trofonio, the intense, magical atmosphere is heard already in its charming wind soli for cor anglais and clarinet, and these are to be found again here. The arrangements from Axur, Rè d’Ormus delight us with their exact instrumental reproduction of the vocal virtuosity and charm of its arias and ballads. In Palmira, regina di Persia, Salieri exploits musical contrasts to the full and in an a cappella quartet also proves himself a master of the vocal ensemble. This art naturally also comes into its own in the version for wind band, and rounds off a enjoyably colourful, contrasting programme.

As so often, the clarinettist and music researcher Dieter Klöcker has in the course of his investigations here unearthed treasures for the ensemble Consortium Classicum. Dieter Klöcker died suddenly in May as we were about to present this album. He recorded for Orfeo for almost 30 years and will be much missed. Separate tribute available on request.

Heinrich Baermann and his son Carl were two of the great clarinet virtuosos of the 19th century, their artistry celebrated the length and breadth of Europe.To their friendship with Felix Mendelssohn we owe the latter's two Concert Pieces opp. 113 and 114, works associated with an amusing anecdote retold by Carl Baermann, who reports that the alternative title of the first piece, 'grand duet for sweet yeast dumpling and cream puff, clarinet and basset-horn', stems from a culinary duel fought between him and Mendelssohn in Berlin at the end of 1832. By preparing yeast dumplings and cream puffs, Baermann apparently persuaded Mendelssohn to respond to a commission that his father had given him some time earlier, encouraging him to slave away at his 'piano stove', while he himself busied himself in the kitchen. It cannot be said that either of these two works simmers at a low heat or that the second of them should be "thrown into the fire", as Mendelssohn himself insisted. In his new recording Dieter Klöcker ensures that these exuberant pieces come nicely to the boil.With Giuseppe Porgo he also rehabilitates two parallel works by Baermann that demonstrate the latter's abilities as a composer in addition to his skills as a cook.The better known of the two pieces is the Duo Concertant that father and son are known to have played together in Paris. In his Concertante for two clarinets and orchestra, finally, Baermann produced a piece that is a classic example of the sort of clarinet virtuosity that even then was coming to an end, its Classical introduction gradually giving way to typically Romantic colours and intervals, some of which reveal Slavonic influence.

“The most beautiful of all clarinet quintets in an exemplary recording” (CD-Führer Klassik)