Search - Malcolm Arnold, Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith :: Martin Fröst plays concertos dedicated to Benny Goodman

Even the best of them make mistakes...

Bryan A. Crumpler | Charlotte, NC USA | 04/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some great cakes (i.e. compositions) were baked for Benny Goodman, and Martin definitely puts the Frost in their frosting! Fabulous playing... fabulous music... fabulous CD. Definitely a must have for any classical music lover - not just clarinetists.



Frost's Copland is beautifully delivered with a marvelous and rich quality of sound. The opening movement, though a bit on the slow side, is very fluid, well controlled, and expressive in a very personal sense of the word.



Stylistically speaking, I find the recording a bit stiff. The animated passages of the 2nd movement and the rag lack a little heart and soul that necessarily needs squeezing out of this work. The cadenza bridging the 1st and 2nd movements, however, was performed with a technical brilliance that is inspiring in all facets. It can be seen by some as a music letdown, however, considering the passages are somewhat cornered, crisply articulated, and almost robotic in delivery. I would not be suprised if this is attributable to the fact that this is a classically trained Sweed, who most likely was far removed from American culture at the time of the recording. This recording, however, remains one of my favorites.



As for the Hindemith, it's the best I've heard it in terms of color and musicality. The orchestral playing is very clean, and Martin gives a very polished performance. The ideas are very well rehearsed and delivered brilliantly.



To ease the skeptical bias, I must note that there are a series of minor entrance mistakes and erroneous notes throughout the conclusion of the Copland and parts of the Hindemith. Although undesired and inexemplary, these errors only show that classical musicians are human too, including Frost! Even the best of them make mistakes. Considering the greatness of Frost as a musician and clarinetist, this disc is actually a relief in that respect.



As for the Arnold, the horn flairs and pizzazz oozing from my speakers as well as the cadenza are undoubtedly the most dazzling I have ever heard for this piece. Shui definitely motivated the orchestra to "punch it" up for him in the Pre-Goodman Rag concluding this work. Their performance definitely adds much more flair to this rather simple work. As with Copland, the rag in the Arnold is also a bit hard and cornered, but the disc in general is one of the most exemplary of the Frost releases in his earlier career.



Overall, I give it 3.75 stars... 4 is close enough."