Sabine Meyer - Mozart - Clarinet Concerto, Sinfonia Concertante (1997)

No timbral difference separates this midprice reissue of one of the best-loved concertos by Mozart from its previous, full-priced equivalent. There's a bit more ambience and warmth and less stridency on top. If you own the original CD, there's no need to replace it, but first-time buyers should snap up these sensitive, stylish performances in their Great Recordings of the Century guise. One of the main attractions is the extended compass and deliciously "woody" tone of Sabine Meyer's basset clarinet. The clarinetist's fleet, effortless dispatch of the Clarinet Concerto's outer movements is a delight to the ear, and her improvised (or so they seem!) flourishes fit into their environment as if Mozart had written them himself. Whatever arguments have arisen over the Sinfonia Concertante's authenticity, no controversy marks this fetching interpretation by Meyer and colleagues. Hans Vonk lets the Dresden Staatskapelle be their gorgeous, collective self, although the less-caloric Orpheus Chamber Orchestra boasts greater transparency in its version. Meyer's interpretation of the Clarinet Concerto has ripened since this 1992 recording, and some listeners might prefer her more playful and overtly dramatic remake with Claudio Abbado and the Berlin Philharmonic. Still and all, Mozart lovers will find both a bargain and a gold mine upon acquiring this disc. Warmly recommended. -- Jed Distler