Thomas Friedli - Franz Krommer: Clarinet Concertos (1986)

Franz Krommer was Czech by birth but spent the major part of his career in Vienna; he was the last official court composer in the Habsburg court. A violinist, Krommer wrote mostly orchestral and chamber music, including at least six dozen string quartets. Born less than four years after Mozart, he outlived Beethoven, but his style is firmly based in the 18th century. The Clarinet Concerto, op. 36, was composed almost exactly midway between those of Mozart and Weber; a fairly ambitious work, it features a large orchestra including trumpets and timpani. It is certainly a virtuoso showpiece, but well written for the instrument; everything fits well under the fingers. The E-Minor Concerto was originally written for flute; its transcription for clarinet took place during Krommer’s lifteime and apparently with his consent. It is believed to be by Krommer’s colleague Joesph Küffner. This score is not nearly as gracefully written for the clarinet. The two-clarinet concerto, published around the same time as op. 36, features lots of imitation and parallel thirds and octaves between the two soloists; neither part is really subsidiary in any meaningful way.

Thomas Friedli was a superb player with a bright, well-focused sound leavened with a touch of vibrato. His performance of the op. 36 Concerto is exemplary; of other clarinetists who have recorded this concerto, the French clarinetist Paul Meyer (no relation to Sabine Meyer) on Denon (no longer available) sounds a bit sweeter while Walter Boeykens, on Harmonia Mundi, has a rounder and less focused tone. In the op. 86 flute concerto Meyer may again be a shade preferable, but his recording may be impossible to find, and Friedli is again faultless.

Friedli is joined in the two-clarinet concerto by the renowned English clarinetist Antony Pay, who also conducts all three works; Pay is exemplary as well, and the rapid runs in octaves for the two soloists sound stunning. The primary competition in this concerto is the sibling team of Wolfgang and Sabine Meyer on an EMI ArkivCD; they are also perfectly in sync, but their tempos are considerably faster. I prefer Pay’s and Friedli’s version, because it’s easier to hear everything.

The 1985 recordings still sound very fine. The versions of these concertos by the various Meyers may be my top choices, but not by much, and in terms of program and availability this Claves CD is a winner. Warmly recommended to fans of the clarinet and of Classical Kleinmeister.