Todd Levy, Elena Abend - Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas (2006)
Artist: Todd Levy, Elena Abend
Title: Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas
Year Of Release: 206
Label: Avie
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 01:10:43
Total Size: 252 Mb
WebSite: Album Preview
Tracklist: Title: Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas
Year Of Release: 206
Label: Avie
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks)
Total Time: 01:10:43
Total Size: 252 Mb
WebSite: Album Preview
Sonate pour clarinette et piano en fa mineur, op. 120 n° 1 (Johannes Brahms)
1 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 1: Allegro Appassionato 08:54
2 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 1: Andante Un Poco Adagio 05:34
3 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 1: Allegretto Grazioso 04:24
4 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 1: Vivace 05:48
Sonate pour clarinette et piano en mi bémol majeur, op. 120 n° 2 (Johannes Brahms)
5 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 2: Allegro Appassionato 08:42
6 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 2: Allegro Appassionato 05:47
7 Sonata For Clarinet And Piano Op. 120, No. 2: Allegro Con Moto - Allegro - Piu Tranquillo 07:41
Romances pour clarinette et piano, op. 94 (Robert Schumann)
8 Romances For Clarinet And Piano Op. 94: Nicht Schnell 03:29
9 Romances For Clarinet And Piano Op. 94 04:10
10 Romances For Clarinet And Piano Op. 94: Nicht Schnell 05:02
Pièces de fantaisie pour clarinette et piano, op. 73 (Robert Schumann)
11 Fantasy Pieces For Clarinet And Piano Op. 73: Zart Und Mit Ausdruck 02:57
12 Fantasy Pieces For Clarinet And Piano Op. 73: Lebhaft, Leicht 03:46
13 Fantasy Pieces For Clarinet And Piano Op. 73: Rasch Und Mit Feuer 04:29
Performers:
Todd Levy (clarinet)
Elena Abend (piano)
Member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, principal of the New World Symphony, and partner of Renée Fleming on the CD Bel Canto, clarinetist Todd Levy is hot stuff. Actually and more accurately, Todd Levy is mellow stuff -- rich, lush, full, deep, and sweet stuff. In this, his first solo disc, Levy takes on four of the most Romantic works in the clarinet repertoire, that's Romantic with both an upper and a lower case R: Brahms' two late sonatas in F minor and E flat major plus Schumann's Fantasy Pieces and, naturally, his Romances. It's a match made in heaven: Levy wraps himself around each piece like a coat in late autumn, playing with a cantabile tone and a flawless technique. If some might reasonably prefer the more reserved but no less heartfelt tone of German clarinetist Karl Leister, those who enjoy the warm style of American clarinetist Richard Stoltzman will more than likely respond to Levy's playing. Venezuelan pianist Elena Abend is a more than capable accompanist who willingly plays a supporting role to Levy's character acting. Unfortunately for Abend, she's buried in the mix, sounding more like she's in another room than merely a few feet from the soloist. But, then, Avie's recording does a disservice to the soloist as well with an acoustic that more closely resembles the bottom of an aquarium than a recording studio.