Sonata for clarinet & piano in E flat major, Op. 167
Sonata for clarinet & piano, FP 184
Sonata for clarinet & piano No. 1 in C major
Scaramouche, suite for clarinet & orchestra (or piano), Op. 165d
It matters not that the clarinetist Sabine Meyer is German and pianist Oleg Maisenberg is Ukrainian: this recital of clarinet sonatas is still French to the bone marrow. The principal reason for this, naturally, is the repertoire. With works by Saint-Saëns, Poulenc, Devienne, and Milhaud, this recital could hardly be anything but French. But while other non-native players might misplace the accents or misjudge the rhythms, Meyer and Maisenberg are deep into the Gallic groove. Of course, no matter what the language, Meyer is ...
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It matters not that the clarinetist Sabine Meyer is German and pianist Oleg Maisenberg is Ukrainian: this recital of clarinet sonatas is still French to the bone marrow. The principal reason for this, naturally, is the repertoire. With works by Saint-Saëns, Poulenc, Devienne, and Milhaud, this recital could hardly be anything but French. But while other non-native players might misplace the accents or misjudge the rhythms, Meyer and Maisenberg are deep into the Gallic groove. Of course, no matter what the language, Meyer is a consummate musician with an immaculate technique and unfailingly good taste, and Maisenberg is a polished accompanist with a strong technique and unhesitatingly generous support. But here they speak French like natives. Their Saint-Saëns is tart, tender, and reserved. Their Poulenc is sweet, soulful, and insouciant. Their Devienne is smart, stunning, and virtuosic. And their encore -- three movements from Milhaud's Scaramouche arranged for clarinet and piano -- is wry, witty, and,...
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