Blue Hour
March 2021
“Blue Hour” is the name of this new album by Deutsche Grammophone / Universal Music Canada. With this release, the exclusive alliance between the artist and yellow label since 2013 has been renewed.
In this CD Andreas Ottensamer shows his soloist side giving an outstanding performance at his best musical and interpretive level. He pairs up with her friend and colleague, Yuja Wang, forming an unparalleled duo. This new album collects jewels from the Romantic period of great meaning for Ottensamer; the Intermezzo Op. 118 Nº2 from Brahms, his favorite composer, a Mendelssohn arrangement of “Lieder ohne Worte” . From Carl Maria von Weber the “Gran Duo Concertante” Op.4 and, accompanied by the famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, in which he performs as the first Clarinet, we’ll find in this recording the Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor Op. 73 recorded live under the baton of Mariss Jansons.
The selection of works that build up the program, seems a bit shocking for some critics who feel that might not be very fortunate. Pairing a live Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1, Op. 73, with a studio recording of clarinet-and-piano pieces, mostly transcriptions, by Weber, Mendelssohn, and Brahms, doesn’t go with the taste of everybody.
The concerto is very well executed by the artist with precise technical polish. The sublime fusion of the solo clarinet with the other winds in the slow movement; leaves us with one of the best version of this movement, and his playing keeps his playing keeps smooth and delicate as well in the following movements. We must point out the marvelous work of Mariss Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic, who offer an exceptional accompaniment, besides not being much recognized by the media coverage.
We can listen pianist Yuja Wang, here in an unusual second term role, with an immaculate technical interpretation, vivid and joyful and with great musicality, as usual she has no problem keeping up with the level of the other two protagonists.
The adequacy of the record’s title, Blue Hour has been a cause of debate. Because we are in front of a compilation of dissimilar works by Weber, Brahms and Mendelssohn, the latter two represented by arrangements, the link between the title and the program is not evident. It could just be a melancholic selection, but in any case, no explanation is been given so far.
The tight synchronization between clarinetist and pianist Yuja Wang is remarkable and the highly skilled musicianship is undeniable throughout the disc. Nobody would doubt of the quality of the performers and their flawless technique. It’s been a controversial release, which definitely deserves to be listened and judged by any music lover.
– David Smith
