Ferdinand Steiner

…Agreed - Ferdinand Steiner is a fantastic clarinettist with a detailed
command of his instrument and great diversity of expression and
dynamics. He presents the very witty paraphrases from Verdi operas with
complete virtuosity, while greatly enjoying himself at the same time.
However this CD has a bit of an 'underground' flavor in its compilation.
Nearly every piece is fantastic - in every sense of the word. Seldom-heard
and really wonderfully-played pieces such as those of Zemlinsky's
student, Joseph Horowitz, combine with the no less marvelous
compositions of Debussy and Francaix to reveal the very different sounds
of the clarinet. Then - amidst all of this - suddenly and emphatically -
Ferdigietto. Baroque music from the Bach aera is twisted, knotted up,
crumbled and decorated with a few plastic beats and a walking bass that
is truly a test of patience...one stands more in amazement of the degree
of irrelevance of this sound than of the piece itself.
Following this, the very sharply and precisely played Solo Pieces by
Stravinsky and Debussy's First Rhapsody display the clarinettist's best
qualities. A warm, luxuriating tone weaves its magic and allows one to
forget the "Ferdigietto"....
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