Mozart: Concerto in A major for Clarinet and Orchestra, KV622; Clarinet Quintet in A major, KV581

Mozart and Martin Fröst make an irresistible pair. Here they present the Clarinet Concerto and the Clarinet Quintet - two unparalleled peaks of the clarinet repertoire - in performances of total commitment and exquisite beauty. A "true desert-island" disc.

Martin Fröst needs no introduction to BIS enthusiasts nor to the critics. "With extremely fine recording, marvellous solo playing and a real symbiosis between soloist and conductor, this triptych will be hard to surpass" was how Gramophone summarized his recordings of the "Benny Goodman" concertos (Copland, Hindemith, Arnold). Today Martin Fröst is, quite simply, one of the leading exponents of his instrument and sought-after all over the world. A final proof of this - if such a thing was needed - is that he this year was chosen by BBC Radio 3 to participate in the BBC New Generation Artists scheme.
As with all great musicians Martin Fröst's playing simply compels one to listen. Not that one needs much compelling, for Mozart's Clarinet Concerto must surely count as the greatest concerto ever written for a wind instrument and the Quintet is non-pareil chamber music. But like the great musician that he is, Martin Fröst makes one listen afresh, makes one discover new aspects of the "familiar" music. He is helped in this by the choice of partners. The Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam, whose Mendelssohn recordings for BIS were so enthusiastically received, seem totally at one with the soloist while the understanding between the Vertavo Quartet and Martin Fröst is particularly evident in the cut and thrust of the quintet.

The SACD recording - allowing a surround sound option for those with the required set-up - really does benefit the music. The range of pianissimo (and below) colours that Martin Fröst conjures up is miraculous and is beautifully reproduced by this disc. Indeed one is reminded by the claims made by a critic of Mozart's time on hearing the great Anton Stadler perform the concerto. 'You deserve my thanks, brave virtuoso! I would never have thought that a clarinet can imitate a human voice as effectively as the way you play it. For your instrument has such a soft and attractive tone that it is irresistible to anyone who has a heart.' (The cadenzas recorded on this disc were not heard at the time, for they are Martin Fröst's own!)

This is a winner of a disc - an hour of pure bliss for the connoisseur and a splendid introduction to classical music for the inexperienced.