Eric Hoeprich, Catherine Manson, John Crockatt & Jonathan Manson - Crusell: 3 Quartets for Clarinet & Strings (2017) [Hi-Res]

Thanks to his exceptional talent as a clarinettist, the Finnish-born composer Bernard Henrik Crusell made it very quickly from his home village, Uusikaupunki, to the metropolis of Stockholm, where he spent the rest of his life, mainly as a member of the orchestra of the Swedish Royal Court. His travels brought him to Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Paris, cities in whcih he made the acquaintance of many great musicians and instrument builders. His works for the clarinet were widely known in the musical circles of the first part of the 19th century. Eric Hoeprich, principal clarinet of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth century since its foundation, has specialized in performing on the historical clarinet, also being the owner of a large collection of 18th and 19th century instruments. Hoeprich and the members of the London Haydn Quartet play on fine historical instruments, which provide a warm, blended sound that is at the same time both transparent and full of detail. All excellently captured by Philip Hobbs in St. Martin's Church in East Woodhay, England, and supplemented by an informative essay authored by Hoeprich himself.