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Johannes BRAHMS (1833-97)
Clarinet Sonatas - F minor, Op. 120 No. 1; E flat, Op. 120 No. 2.
Paul HINDEMITH
(1895-1960)
Clarinet Sonata (1939).
Colin Bradbury (clarinet); Bernard Roberts (piano).
The Divine Art 2-5014 [DDD] [55'48]
Crotchet
 Divine Art

This is inspired programme planning. The emotional world of the Hindemith is not a million miles away from that of the Brahms, but its spiky harmonic vocabulary remains far enough away to carry sufficient contrast to the Romantic weight of the two heftier Sonatas.

The Brahms Sonatas take up the lion's share of this offering, and Bradbury and Roberts are more than equal to their demands. Any doubts harboured after the F minor's first movement (great on detail but in need of a long-range sense of line) are effectively forgotten by the end. There is real chamber music dialogue in the Andante un poco adagio, and the finale is true to the vivace marking. The Allegretto grazioso shines brightest in this performance, however: autumnal, like a half-caught memory and yet conjuring up an Austrian Landler in the process.

The same musicianly qualities grace the E flat Sonata. The final variations are strongly characterised and Bradbury's half-tone in the first movement is a joy. The Hindemith merely adds to the pleasure afforded by this CD: the final pianissimo of the first movement hangs magically in the air whilst the playful second and fourth movements offer aural balm.

Competition is not as fierce as might be imagined in the Brahms and this coupling is, anyway, unique. Bradbury and Roberts provide a rewarding musical experience.

Reviewer

Colin Clarke

Performance

Recording




Reviewer

Reviewer

Colin Clarke

Performance

Recording


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