Martin Frost - Von Weber: Clarinet Concertos

Like Mozart with Anton Stadler and later Brahms with his Richard Muhlfeld, Carl Marla von Weber could also call upon an exceptional clarinetist: Heinrich Baermann, who inspired all of the works on this disc. Although they were written before Weber had composed Der Freischultz, the opera, which made him an instant star of early Romantic music, they are now among his most played works. The Concertino and the two Concertos were all composed in 1811, in an almost-frenzy that testifies to the inspiration Weber must have experienced when first hearing Baermann. This is also audible in the music, which showcases the instrument's technical capabilities and displays its richness of colors, while providing it with gripping moments in aria-like slow movements and virtuosic and vivacious finales. To perform these works an all-around musician is needed: someone like Baermann – or like Martin Frost! With his latest release on BIS – chamber works by Brahms – Frost captured the hearts and ears of both audiences and reviewers, as testified by a number of distinctions.