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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Two firsts here--the long-awaited recording of Mikhail Pletnev's transcription of Beethoven's violin concerto for clarinet and Michael Collins' only recording to date of Mozart's clarinet concerto. With his most recent discs concentrating on contemporary repertory, including Elliott Carter's clarinet concerto and John Adams' Gnarly Buttons, Collins' foray back to the music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries is a most welcome addition to the catalogue.
Collins has held off recording the Mozart for the best part of two decades to avoid the inevitable Weber coupling, waiting rather for a more unorthodox combination of works--and you don't get more unconventional than the Beethoven. The demands of the lengthy opening movement are extreme and Collins handles them well. But it is in the second and third movements where the Beethoven gamble really pays off, Collins' melancholic playing in the former so moving as to warm even the coldest of hearts.
The performance of the Mozart was worth the wait. Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra provide a rich and sensitive accompaniment; Collins matches this with effortless notes floating in the high register and beautiful reedy tones at the bottom of the range. A valuable new release. --Rebecca Agnew
Product Description
CD ...Orch.Kv622/W/Michael Collins, Russian Nat.Orch.,Plet
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Anton Stadler would have wished that he could have sounded like this the first time he played the Mozart Concerto! I own many recordings of this over recorded concerto, and few get as close to perfection as this one. Technique, tone and orchestral accompaniment are provided with sheer brilliance. Even if you own the Karl Leister or Sabine Meyer recording of this work, buy this one. All this before we even get to the Beethoven! I'm biased, but I think this concerto sounds better on the Clarinet, as what gets closer to the singing qualities that Beethoven obviously wanted? A truly magical disc, I'm off to listen to it again!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
But Beethoven didn't write a clarinet concerto! Is this a mistake or just a gimmick?Not at all. It is one of the most beautiful clarinet concertos I have ever heard as a professional clarinettist and teacher in over thirty years.It may be a shock initially to the well versed listener of Beethoven's Violin Concerto.However it is a wonderful transcription by the transcriber, and conductor of this masterpiece, Mikhail Pletnev, who also conducts the warm, sonorous sounding Russian National Orchestra.There have been many transcriptions of this work, but I doubt that there is a finer one. Michael Collins handling of the solo part is suberb. The high notes in particular are played with such amazing control and delicacy. You'll be surprised that a clarinet can sound like this!Mr. Collins plays it as though Beethven himself had composed it for him alone. What a wonderful musical performance. The listner cannot help but be uplifted even if he knows the original. Michael Collins recording of the most recorded classical clarinet concerto is in my opinion one of the greatest. If you don't have one get this one, especially as it's played on a basset clarinet with such virtuosity. I would urge any listner to listen to this superb recording for its sheer musicallity. The best clarinet recording I have personally heard this century! Bill Ducker
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Perhaps my favourite concerto in the classical repertoire. Beethoven's violin concerto is skillfully transcribed to the clarinet. The playing is superb, the recording warm yet detailed. Coupled here with Mozart's haunting clarinet concerto this cd has got to be my favourite classical purchase of the year.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By L Dixon
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Michael Collins playing is absolutely ravishing. I am just loving this CD. The clarinet certainly needs a biggie concerto and the Beethoven is it. Loved the Mozart but thats done to death. The Beethoven was a refreshing change and the marvellous thing is, it works on the clarinet. You could almost forget that it was originally for violin. I hope Collins does other big stuff. How about Tchaikovsky or is that sacrilege!!!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By J F McKenzie
Format:Audio CD
Forget any reservations you may have about the transcription of Beethoven's wonderful Violin Concerto - this is a truly magnificent coupling. Michael Collins performs the definitive Mozart Clarinet Concerto, recorded with supreme clarity and depth. The Beethoven piece simply has to be heard to be believed!
By broncuk
Format:Audio CD
This is instrumental playing of the highest order. Its a "must-have" particularly if you're a student or fan of single-reed classical repertoire.
By Fred
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The playing of these concertos is perfect, as you would expect from Michael Collins. If anyone could pull off the transcription of the Beethoven Violin Concerto it is he, but for me it does not hit the spot at all. I bought it for its novelty value and out of curiosity, but it remains a novelty, nothing more. A coupling of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Quintet is the ideal for me.
Format:Audio CD
After hearing Michael Collins play the Mozart live I wanted to buy a recording. The only one I could find was this one with the Beethoven Violin Concerto transcribed for the clarinet. I was rather doubtful of this at first but found it really brilliant. I have played this CD a few times now and it never ceases to move me. A definate must have for clarinet enthusiasts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Beautiful
Others have said it better, all I can add is my vote and say that it is one of my most prized CDs. I'm so pleased I listened to the person who recommended it to me in 2003. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by JH
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just short of perfection
The Clarinet Concerto (Beethoven arr. Pletnev) is absolutely wonderful as other reviewers have rightly said - except in one respect: Collins admits in the accompanying notes that... Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2008 by Stuart Emmerson
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