Crusell: Clarinet Quartet No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 2

Finnish-born composer Bernhard Hendrik Crusell (1775-1838) became famous as one of the greatest clarinet virtuosos of his time, playing both his own compositions and those of contemporaries Krommer, Mozart, Beethoven and Lebrun. He was said to have had a beautiful cantabile tone and a particularly soft pianissimo. He spent most of his life in Sweden, and was considered to be the most important Swedish composer of Beethoven’s age.

Naturally, Crusell is especially renowned for his clarinet compositions, notably the three delightful concertos and the three clarinet quartets. His elegant, thematically rich style, of great charm and technical skill, was influenced by Mozart, Beethoven and some of his French contemporaries, blending Viennese classicism with elements of French opera.The Clarinet Concert No.2 in F minor is generally considered the finest of the concertos, and perhaps Crusell’s greatest work in any form. The finely-worked out first movement has dazzling virtuoso passages, but also a quality of drama and poignancy that relates more to the dawning Romantic period than the waning Classical era.

The clarinet concertos are perhaps less demanding for the performers, but are equally charming. In all three works the clarinet is the principal instrument, with the violin, viola and cello providing accompaniment. Of particular note is the Quartet No.2 in C minor, the only minor-key work among the quartets, which shows Crusell’s melodic invention at its most restrained and subdued, and the bravura clarinet writing of the Quartet No.3 in D. Internationally acclaimed clarinet soloist Emma Johnson gives sparkling performances of Crusell’s clarinet concertos, with the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwarz. Renowned Dutch clarinettist Henk de Graaf performs the clarinet quartets, with members of the Daniel String Quartet: Misha Furman (violin), Itamar Shimon (viola) and Joanna Pachucka (cello).

Emma Johnson is “Britain’s Favourite Clarinettist” (The Times).

Crusell is a name known to every lover of clarinet music. That is his concertos for this instrument are well-loved and –known. These compositions rank among the best written for the instrument. But who has ever heard chamber music by this most significant Finnish composer of the Classical period, who, not surprisingly, was a clarinettist himself. Clarinet players have to make do with a relatively small number a really great works. Among his many activities Dutch clarinettist Henk de Graaf is always on the lookout for lesser-known repertoire. For instance he earlier recorded five clarinet concertos by Johann Melchior Molter. On this record De Graaf presents three quartets for clarinet and strings by Bernhard Crusell. Not much is know about the genesis of these pieces. The earliest reference dates from 1803, Crusell was 28, the year he travelled to France from his residential Stockholm, where he would be a court musician all his life. Crusell’s musical style conforms to the ‘Viennese Classicism’ combined with traces of French opera, repertoire he must he played with the court orchestra. Unlike his concertos these quartets are not really demanding for the performers. However, they still are delightful pieces to listen to.