Robert Stark: Clarinet Concertos Dimitri Ashkenazy

• Robert Stark (1847–1922)
• 1Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 1321:28
• 2Grosse theoretisch praktische Klarinett-Schule, Op. 49: Walzer-Capriccio03:43
• 3Romanze, Op. 109:41
• Concerto for clarinet and orchestra No. 3 in D Minor op. 50
• 4I. Adagio - Allegro con brio06:14
• 5II. Adagio07:07
• 6III. Finale: Allegro vivace04:47
• Total Runtime53:00

Info for Robert Stark: Clarinet Concertos

Robert Stark is one of those composers history seems to have left by the wayside – this despite the fact that clarinetists (or at least the professionals among them) will tend to know his name: His clarinet tutorial, entitled Große theoretisch-praktische Clarinett-Schule nebst Anweisung zur Erlernung des Bassetthorns und der Bassclarinette, first published in 1892, is still consulted by clarinet teachers the world over, and countless students of the instrument must have used the etudes and short pieces therein to improve their respective techniques in the century or so of its existence – beginning with Stark's own, at the Würzburger Musikschule, where this first-class pedagogue taught from 1881 until his retirement in 1919.

The first time I came across Robert Stark's name (or, at least, the first time I was truly conscious thereof), was in 1994, when it was suggested to me that I could record a few of his transcriptions for clarinet and piano of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Songs Without Words to complete a CD of Mendelssohn’s chamber works involving clarinet. In the piano part I found, among other things, a short biography of Stark, including references to his compositions – and not only those of a pedagogical nature. I was amazed to discover that he had written many chamber works, even concertos: Where were they? Why had seemingly no one (apart from the author of the text, obviously) heard of them? And why had I never seen them on concert programmes or record- ings? There and then I embarked on a journey that is finally culminating (while perhaps not yet ending) in the release of this CD. The pieces we found and recorded are, to me, not only elegant, inventive and appealing, but honest music. Of all the compliments one can bestow on a composer, it is this last one I find the most important. In my opinion, Robert Stark truly deserves it.

Robert Stark was born on 19 September 1847 (interestingly, in the same year Felix Mendelssohn died – the two were on Earth together for 46 days!) in Klingenthal (Saxony). His father was an instrument maker, so young Robert was introduced to various wind instruments at an early stage, while the clarinet had possibly even earlier become the main musical focus in his life. Such knowledge led to his being made the “signalist” in a Saxon infantry regiment at the tender age of thirteen, and to formal studies at the Dresden Konservatorium a few years later. At 24, Robert Stark joined the Chemnitz Orchestra, and after only two years there was appointed the new solo clarinetist in Wiesbaden. His move to Würzburg came eight years thereafter, and with it, while not the end, then an evident reduction of his activity as a performing musician. Instead, apart from teaching, he began to devote more time to composing, for which I, at any rate, having now played and heard a number of his works, am very grateful.

Robert Stark lived for a little more than three years after retiring from his position at the Würzburger Musikschule, until the 40th day after his 75th birthday.

Dimitri Ashkenazy, clarinet
Hamburger Symphoniker
David Curtis, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Robert Stark: Clarinet Concertos