Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ensemble 415, Gilles Thome :: Mozart: Une soiree chez les Jacquin /Piau * Gabail * Caton * Lehtipuu * Ensemble 415 * Banchini * Thome

A marvelous programme

Jonathan J. Casey | the twin cities | 10/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a brilliant package: well-thought, well-played, and well-recorded. Before you go any further, though, be warned...this recording does not contain the entire clarinet concerto, instead it features the first movement as originally conceived for basset horn (alto clarinet). Gilles Thome has put great care into putting all this together. He performs the work on a basset horn in G after the 18th century instrument-maker Theodor Lotz. While the liner notes are extensive regarding this matter (and clarinets in general) some of the works included may require a bit more research on the listener's part.Amazon does not list the entire set of works included on this recording. Besides the basset horn concerto (K. 621b) you will find a fine performance of the clarinet trio K. 498; exceptionally rich and beautiful notturni for vocal trio and three basset horns or clarinets K. 436-439, K. 346, and K. 549; the only recording (currently on CD) of the sonata for piano four hands in C, K. 521 on a fortepiano (a copy of a 1793 Lengerer by Christopher Clarke who provides some enlightening notes on the subject); sketches and other works for various combinations of clarinet, basset horn, and bassoon K. 484b, K. 411, K. 580a, and K. 410; and perhaps most surprising of all, the hilarious canons "Liebes Mandel, wo ist's Bandel?" K. 441 and "Bona Nox! bist a rechta Ox," K. 561 along with "Ach! zu Kurtz" K. 228. The scatalogical, macaronic (in five languages) "Bona Nox!" is a prime example of Mozart at his childish, frivolous best, and this recording is a much-needed window into the Mozart we're rarely allowed to see. "Liebes Mandel" is a succinct comic masterpiece for three voices and string quartet, based on a simple real-life situation (what better basis for a text?) in which Mozart and Constanze search in vain for a lost ribbon (possibly a garter-belt) which is finally found by friend Gottfried von Jacquin. The closing heroics of "pretty pretty ribbon...we've got it, yes!" make for umatched operatic parody. The vocalists here are first-rate, having sung under William Christie, Ton Koopman, Philippe Herreweghe, and Jean-Claude Malgoire, among others. Schoonderwoerd and Spanyi are not the most refined keyboardists in the world, but they do a fine job with Mozart's extremely pleasing music. Banchini appears here only briefly as conductor and principal violin for the basset horn concerto. Thome and his various wind collaborators provide deeply rich textures in the vocal pieces and especially in the instrumental selections. This is an incredibly satisfying pair of CD's, and I can't recommend it more highly for the Mozart lover (except, perhaps, for the stuffy, unimaginative NYC "Friends of Mozart" type who may be unaware of such concepts as "humor"). Anyone who appreciates classical music will find something to enjoy here. I hope "Une Soiree chez les Jacquin" receives the attention it truly deserves."