This DG series of Mozart recordings had such weird covers. They each feature a cutout of some sort, usually of the composer. I think they were in preparations for the 200th Anniversary of Mozart's death.
Regardless, this was a great opportunity to put together Mozart's Clarinet, Oboe, and Bassoon concertos, from the auspices of Karl Böhm.
Böhm was a great Mozart-ian. He simply 'got' the composer. Not everything is perfect from the Austrian conductor, he could be leaden in many a minuet, but generally, he found the spirit and warmth of the composer as none other. Best yet, here he is with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in fine mettle.
This is simply one of the finest recordings of the Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Somehow, Böhm, alongside the talents of Alfred Prinz on clarinet, makes the middle movement absolutely magical. I think it is the conductor's measured pace; he is no hurry, and so we as listeners let our guard down, allowing the music to flower beautifully around us. Tune in about halfway through the second movement when the strings reenter sotto voce; the effect is mesmerizing. It is these moments which allow the listener to touch beyond our plane of existence.
I also really dig Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C Major, certainly much more so compared to his reworked Flute Concerto in D Major, a later transcription of the former work. Böhm is having an 'on' day in this concerto, where the music prances along merrily; no plodding here! Oboist Gerhard Turetschek can be a tad constricted in the very upper ranges, but nothing which ruins the occasion, and overall this comes together as a great K. 314.
The Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major is not as heaven blessed as the rest of the program. The recording mentions it was never previously released, and I can understand why. I find the bassoon tone from Dietmar Zeman rather flat and perfunctory, where even the Vienna Philharmonic seems to have been captured less than ideally, at least sonically speaking. I see this was later reissued on DG Originals; hopefully they cleaned it up on that one.
Yet, I like this triad of Mozart wind concertos the best from Böhm. You can find these same performances, but rearranged elsewhere: the Clarinet Concerto is paired with the Flute & Harp Concerto, as well as the Flute Concerto on another. The Oboe Concerto is also linked with the Flute Concerto on a different recording, and the Bassoon Concerto comes with just the Clarinet Concerto on yet another release. It is a dizzying array of options, but of course you could just invest in Böhm's Wind Concertos box and be done with it - that one comes with the Serenades and Divertimentos as well.
The three concertos on this recording are the best from Böhm with Vienna in my opinion, particularly the Clarinet Concerto, which is a must hear, and the perky Oboe Concerto is also splendid. So too, the Bassoon Concerto is worth visiting, even if there are better examples of it elsewhere.
I didn't really go deep into describing any of these concertos from Mozart, but if you like how Mozart works his magic with wind instruments as I do, this is an easy first choice.
Works
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622 (30.40)
Oboe Concerto in C Major, K. 314 (23.14)
Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major, K. 191 (19.02)
Soloists
Alfred Prinz, clarinet
Gerhard Turetschek, oboe
Dietmar Zeman, bassoon
Performers
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Karl Böhm, conductor
Label: DG
Year: 1972; 1991
Total Timing: 73.29
Another Mozart recording which is a must have.
I would say, 'if for nothing else than the Clarinet Concerto', but this Oboe Concerto is pretty great too.
The Bassoon Concerto is a much earlier work from Mozart, and you can tell it is not at quite the same level.
Doesn't ruin anything for me, though, for Böhm and Vienna are at the top of their game here.
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