Brahms - Clarinet Sonata 2 [Collins/ Pletnev]Brahms wrote his Clarinet Sonatas in the autumn of his life, inspired by the Clarinetist Richard Muhlfeld, they were virtually the last things he composed, a few years later he was dead.
The Englishman Michael Collins has recently turned to conducting, and will be taking up the appointment as Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia later in 2010, he is still a fairly 'young' 48, this disc was recorded just over 20 years ago, the booklet is really nice, a young looking Collins, and Pletnev looks like an Undertaker!.
Brahms Clarinet Sonata 2 is very lyrical, and pastoral in feel, the opening movement sounds like a free flowing Rhapsody, it goes all over the place, seems fairly structureless, there's this passionate episode on the clarinet, fairly loud [1:47+], which also returns later [6:15+], and is preceded by some nice strong piano work, some lovely 'last thoughts' from Brahms.
Here's the first movement Allegro Amabile being played on YouTube.
