Search - Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Peter Serkin :: Brahms: Sonatas Nos.1 & 2; Schumann: Fantasy Pieces

Wonderfully personal

David Lee | Canada | 09/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Harold Wright spoke with his clarinet to you personally...as a student of his for 4 years I am reminded of the wonder of his phrasing and remarkable musicianship in these recordings. His tone in real life was so pure that it was a revelation.



His technique was so refined and so french..the opulence of his tonal character was American!!! I was very lucky to have learned so much from such a great teacher.



this is among his finest recordings...but clarinetists should look for the older Harris Goldsmith recordings of these works as well!!! Of course Harold Wright is better than Marcellus...he had soul!!!



His Brahms is the finest out there!"

Good, but could be better.

Donald G. Hite III | Houston, Tx USA | 07/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having heard on numerous occassions that Harold Wright's recording of the Brahms Sonatas is the benchmark, I was very excited to finally get a copy of this CD. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I've listened to it twice already and I've yet to hear what others claim makes this recording so wonderful.



Wright has a beautiful tone and phrases very delicately (while this is generally a positive thing, I feel he is a little bland on the more passionate parts of these pieces, particularly the 1st movement of the 1st Sonata). This aside, his playing is delightful.



My main complaint is that the piano part is often too blurry or too loud. I can't tell if Serkin is just heavy-handed, or if the CD just has too much reverb, but at times the clarity in the piano part is just not there. Considering that these pieces are so piano-intensive, such problems quickly became a distraction for me.



I'm giving 4 stars because Wright is a master clarinetist and plays the Brahms beautiful. From an ensemble standpoint, however, I didn't find the pieces to be as spectacular overall as most claim."

The Definitive Brahms Sonatas

David Lee | 02/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Harold Wright is an amazing player, and in these sonatas he explores a whole range of colors and emotions. Truly an unforgettable recording that you will always listen to with amazement."