Günter Klaus - Koželuch, Hoffmeister: Concertante Works for Double bass (2000) CD-Rip

Although at first we might wonder at the rationale for pairing these two pieces–a double bass concerto and a sinfonia concertante by a (not very well liked) colleague of Mozart and Haydn–on closer inspection we realize that the connection derives from the fact that both pieces were premiered by the same double bass virtuoso. Leopold Kozeluch’s Sinfonia Concertante is scored for the unique combination of mandolin, trumpet, double bass, and piano. Because the soloists get plenty of time to themselves in this piece, it’s easy to consider the work as a showcase for the double bass. However, in this performance, the best soloist is not bassist Günter Klaus but mandolin player Takashi Ochi, who is ably joined by pianist Siegbert Panzer and trumpeter Helmut Erb. All four are placed very far forward in the recording, so there is never a balance problem with the orchestra. Klaus struggles with intonation in nearly every solo, especially in arpeggio flourishes and scale runs. This is especially disappointing because the composer indicates scordatura–an altered tuning of the instrument–to make those licks easier to play in E-flat, an awkward key for the bass. These technical problems really undermine our enjoyment of this otherwise light and engaging work, which nevertheless receives caring attention from Eliahu Inbal and his Frankfurt Radio Symphony.

Klaus is the soloist in Hoffmeister’s concerto as well, in a competently conducted performance by Othmar Màga. Klaus’ intonation is not much better here, and too many shifts are insecure; but his tone is a bit fuller in this piece, and phrasing is intelligent and clear. It’s too bad that this effort is marred by shifting difficulties and by longer-held notes that go sour because of a vibrato that wobbles too wide and often drifts flat. Unfortunately, there are no other recordings for the Hoffmeister, and the Erato rendition of the Kozeluch is long out of print.