Sabine Meyer / Oleg Maisenberg

Sabine Meyer Plays Devienne, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Milhaud

Add to Custom List

Add to My Collection

AllMusic Rating
10
User Ratings (0)
Your Rating

Sabine Meyer Plays Devienne, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Milhaud Review

by James Leonard

It matters not that the clarinetist Sabine Meyer is German and pianist Oleg Maisenberg is Ukrainian: this recital of clarinet sonatas is still French to the bone marrow. The principal reason for this, naturally, is the repertoire. With works by Saint-Saëns, Poulenc, Devienne, and Milhaud, this recital could hardly be anything but French. But while other non-native players might misplace the accents or misjudge the rhythms, Meyer and Maisenberg are deep into the Gallic groove. Of course, no matter what the language, Meyer is a consummate musician with an immaculate technique and unfailingly good taste, and Maisenberg is a polished accompanist with a strong technique and unhesitatingly generous support. But here they speak French like natives. Their Saint-Saëns is tart, tender, and reserved. Their Poulenc is sweet, soulful, and insouciant. Their Devienne is smart, stunning, and virtuosic. And their encore -- three movements from Milhaud's Scaramouche arranged for clarinet and piano -- is wry, witty, and, in the closing Brazileira, fall-down funny. Captured by producer John Fraser in sound so real you'll swear this is no recording at all, but rather purest aural magic, this disc commends itself to Francophiles of any nationality.

Track Listing

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Sonata for clarinet & piano in E flat major, Op. 167
	1	Allegretto Camille Saint-Saëns	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	04:26	Amazon
	2	Allegro animato Camille Saint-Saëns	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	02:04	Amazon
	3	Lento Camille Saint-Saëns	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	03:57	Amazon
	4	Molto allegro Camille Saint-Saëns	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	04:57	Amazon
Sonata for clarinet & piano, FP 184
	5	Allegro tristamente (Allegretto - Très calme - Tempo allegretto) Francis Poulenc	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	05:21	Amazon
	6	Romanza (Très calme) Francis Poulenc	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	05:22	Amazon
	7	Allegro con fuoco (Très animé) Francis Poulenc	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	03:18	Amazon
Sonata for clarinet & piano No. 1 in C major
	8	Allegro con spiritoso François Devienne	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	06:37	Amazon
	9	Adagio François Devienne	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	06:08	Amazon
	10	Rondo allegretto François Devienne	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	04:04	Amazon
Scaramouche (3), suite for clarinet & orchestra (or piano), Op. 165d
	11	Vif Darius Milhaud	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	02:59	Amazon
	12	Modéré Darius Milhaud	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	04:27	Amazon
	13	Brazileira Darius Milhaud	Oleg Maisenberg / Sabine Meyer	02:24	Amazon