Max Reger – Complete Works for Clarinet & Piano
Anthony Pike clarinet, Martin Jones piano
Composed between 1900 and 1908, the three clarinet sonatas by Max Reger were directly inspired by the two Sonatas op. 120 by Brahms, with whom Reger was a direct contemporary. Albumblatt and Tarantella were probably written as a pair in 1902. Hugely prolific, Reger sought to extend the harmonic language of Brahms, taking tonality to the point of breakdown and causing Schoenberg to consider Reger a genius. With appropriately rich dark tonal colours and beautifully interpreted, this valuable album is played by Anthony Pike with duo pianist Martin Jones, who together give a welcome opportunity of hearing these masterworks.
Max Reger
- Sonata in B flat op. 107
- Sonata in A flat op. 49 no. 1
- Sonata in F-sharp minor op. 49 no. 2
- Two Pieces: Albumblatt and Tarantella
‘The performances from Pike and Martin Jones, clearly the product of deep study, could hardly be improved upon. This is most admirable chamber-music playing and the recording is excellent: a very fine CD.’
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW
Playing Time: 74 mins.
CC0047
