Martin Fröst is as fine a clarinetist as has ever touched this music, and he’s given splendidly alert and lively accompaniments courtesy of Okko Kamu and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. His sweet timbre and ability to play loudly without turning shrill serve these virtuosic pieces particularly well, whether in the F minor concerto’s lovely Andante pastorale, or in the B-flat concerto’s “risoluto” opening movement. Fröst and Kamu also pace those moderate-tempo finales extremely well (that is, with plenty of rhythmic lift), largely because Fröst’s technical virtuosity is so absolute that he can do just about anything at any speed and make it sound effortless. Perfect balances between solo and orchestra and stunningly lifelike presence in all formats (I’m not sure we need to hear these works in multi-channel surround-sound, but it’s nice to have) make this the new reference version if you have a hankering for Crussel’s delightful clarinet concertos. [2/2/2009]
