Thea King, The Philharmonia Orchestra, Alun Francis - Stanford / Finzi – Clarinet Concertos (2001)

The contrast is striking. Stanford’s Clarinet Concerto may be the more solidly constructed and efficiently crafted work, but compared with Finzi’s vitality, expressive subtlety and long-breathed lyrical charm, it’s rarely more than a worthy effort. Thea King’s shaping and colouring of Finzi’s almost improvisatory melodic lines is more deeply persuasive than any other recorded version I know – touching without being sentimental. As for the Stanford, I’ll just say that King’s playing suggests she likes it more than I did. Neither recording sounds quite as fresh and clear as they did when they first appeared, 20 years ago, but they’re still more than serviceable. -- Stephen Johnson