Dieter Klöcker, Guido Schiefen, Olaf Dressler - Beethoven, Lannoy, Rudolph von Österreich: Clarinet Trios (2008)

Dieter Klöcker is a major performer and pedagogue on the clarinet; the breadth of his range in terms of literature and wealth of recorded output for various labels is staggering. Klöcker is also quite a reputable scholar, not only in music directly relating to his instrument but in a broader sense as well. CPO's Clarinet Trios is a program that pulls together excellent performances of Ludwig van Beethoven's familiar "Gassenhauer" Trio and two other clarinet trios conceived in its wake, both written by noblemen who were gifted musical amateurs: Eduard von Lannoy and Beethoven's patron Erzherzog Rudolph von Österreich. Although Lannoy, a Belgian Baron, was initially opposed to Beethoven's revolutionary style, he was close to Archduke Rudolph and eventually developed a taste for it, though not without some degree of reservation. His Clarinet Trio is a major revelation in terms of chamber literature for the clarinet; it is quite accomplished and expressive and demonstrates an enormous wealth of original ideas. That by Archduke Rudolph is not as varied as Lannoy's, with one foot still grounded in classical style, but it is very serious in its approach and has nothing of the frivolity one usually associates with the musical products of the nobility.

CPO's recording in this instance is warm, well-balanced, and in keeping with the character of the music. CPO and Klöcker's Clarinet Trios is ample evidence that the transitional phase between the classic and romantic was a far more exciting time musically than is commonly taken to be the case, not to mention an enjoyable listen apart from its historic context; clarinet fanciers really shouldn't miss this one.