Richard Stoltzman: Essential Clarinet (1992)
Classical | EAC (APE & CUE) | 228 MB
Okay, at the risk of sounding crazy, Richard Stoltzman is the greatest thing that ever happened to clarinet music!! There are no words to describe the great talent he displays on this CD. I've personally perfomed the Copland Concerto (not anywhere nearly as well as him, though) and I'm baffled by his technical skill and how easy he makes it sound. I've heard many versions of this (including the original by Goodman) and Stoltzman's jazzy interpretation is wonderful and not at all over-done (as far as smears and what not). The Stravinsky is really nice, but might take a little getting used to. I really enjoy it though. The Berstein is really nice, but I do agree w/ another review which said it was largely filler… there isn't a whole lot of clarinet in the "Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs", but what there is is fantastic.