A pair of albums showcase clarinetists Andreas and Daniel Ottensamer, we hear a lost recording from 20th century piano virtuoso Sviatoslav Richter, plus new recordings from conductors Klaus Mäkelä and William Christie.
New Releases Jun. 17: Clarinet, Richter, Mäkelä, Christie
Andreas Ottensamer (Photo: Halina Jasinka)
Andreas Ottensamer, who recently announced he will step down as principal clarinet of the Berlin Philharmonic to focus on conducting, presents his latest album with pianist José Gallardo. Romanza features select movements from clarinet sonatas by Brahms, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Rota, and Joseph Horovitz. The album also includes Ottensamer’s own transcriptions of beloved classical melodies such as Satie’s Gymnopédie No. 1, Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, and Debussy’s La fille aux cheveux de lin. With Romanza, Ottensamer explores themes of love, longing, and introspection, while showcasing his technical prowess and musical sensitivity.
Daniel Ottensamer presents Brahms’ two legendary clarinet sonatas, reworked for clarinet and orchestra by Stephan Koncz, who also conducts the Berlin German Symphony Orchestra on this recording. Koncz’s orchestrations bring these masterful pieces out of the limited space of chamber music, presenting them in a new symphonic light. The album is rounded out by a hidden gem, Walter Rabl’s clarinet quartet, featuring pianist Christoph Traxler, violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley, and Stephan Koncz exchanging his baton for the cello.
The Lost Tapes presents previously unreleased live recordings of four pivotal Beethoven piano sonatas. Captured during performances at the Lucerne Festival and Richter’s private venue in La Grange de Meslay, these recordings offer a rare glimpse into the interpretative genius of one of the 20th century’s most esteemed pianists. The selected sonatas—Op. 31 No. 3 “The Hunt”, Op. 90, Op. 101, and Op. 110—showcase Richter’s distinctive tonal palette and dynamic phrasing. This exciting release not only enriches the existing catalog of Richter’s work but also reaffirms his legacy as a masterful interpreter of Beethoven.
Klaus Mäkelä conducts Orchestre de Paris in two classic showpieces that premiered in Paris: Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique and Ravel’s La valse.
“Mäkelä is a star, no doubt, and the proof of it is that he makes his players look and sound like stars, too” wrote The Guardian about the BBC Proms performance of the Berlioz last summer, shortly before this recording was made. Mäkelä leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the colorful, idiosyncratic work in October 2025.
This new album featuring two rising star countertenors Carlo Vistoli and Hugh Cutting. Accompanied by Les Arts Florissants, conducted by William Christie, the program centers Baroque arias and duets for two altos by composers such as Monteverdi, Caldara, Bononcini, and Vivaldi. The album’s release marks a significant milestone in Cutting’s career, following his recognition as the first countertenor to win the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Award in 2021 and his inclusion in the BBC New Generation Artists.
