Karl Leister - Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1-3 (2019)

In the 1830s, Spohr was commonly considered undisputedly the greatest living composer. He was inspired to write his four clarinet concertos, which have always ranked among Spohr’s most popular works, by his acquaintance with the Thuringian clarinettist Johann Simon Hermstedt. Up to today, the decidedly virtuoso clarinet concertos have been a challenge for any clarinet soloist, as they mirror Spohr’s view of the form of the solo concerto as a projection surface to flaunt technical skill in an ideal symbiosis with the poetic and lyrical contents of the music. On this release, the works are performed by Karl Leister. Karl Leister began his solo career as a clarinetist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan in 1959. At the same time his international career as a soloist and chamber musician began. He is one of the founders of the ensembles Blaser der Berliner Philharmoniker, Berliner Solisten as well as the Ensemble Wien-Berlin. Since the foundation of the Herbert von Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Leister has been teaching the young generation.

Tracklist:

CD1:

01. Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 26: I. Adagio - Allegro
02. Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 26: II. Adagio
03. Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 26: III. Rondo. Vivace
04. Clarinet Concerto No. 4 in E Minor, WoO 20: I. Allegro vivace
05. Clarinet Concerto No. 4 in E Minor, WoO 20: II. Larghetto
06. Clarinet Concerto No. 4 in E Minor, WoO 20: III. Rondo al espagnol



CD2:

01. Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 57: I. Allegro
02. Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 57: II. Adagio
03. Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 57: III. Rondo alla polacca
04. Clarinet Concerto No. 3 in F Minor, WoO 19: I. Allegro moderato
05. Clarinet Concerto No. 3 in F Minor, WoO 19: II. Adagio
06. Clarinet Concerto No. 3 in F Minor, WoO 19: III. Vivace non troppo