Mozart: Flute Concerto No. 1; Concerto for Flute and Harp; Clarinet Concerto
Emmanuel Pahud, who here delivers his version of Mozart's first flute concerto plus the composer's earlier work for flute and harp, is, in many ways, James Galway's anointed successor. This young Swiss virtuoso followed Galway in the job of principal flute with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the tender age of 22 after receiving encouragement from him, and as the older flautist has diversified into nonclassical territories, Pahud has taken his place as prime purveyor of the flute classics. He brings to Mozart's first concerto a tone of astonishing warmth and fullness--those who think the flute colorless should listen in here--and to its gorgeous slow movement an irresistible grace. With harpist Marie Langlamet, the double concerto springs vibrantly to life; the melodic patterns they weave around each other in the slow movement are all the more beautiful for being taken at a notably gentle pace. This version more than holds its own against theclassic recording by Galway and Marisa Robles. Meanwhile, clarinetist Sabine Meyer deals effectively with the concerto on which all clarinetists must sooner or later leave their mark. Claudio Abbado and the incomparable Berlin Philharmonic underpin everything with their trademark warmth and clarity.--Michael Church