Clarinet concertos anyone?

Here is my list of recommended clarinet music:
1) Mozart - "Clarinet Concerto in A, K622" w/Sabine Meyer, live recording w/Claudio Abbado(also has Debussy)
2) Mozart - "Clarinet Quintet K581" w/Sabine Meyer or Richard Stolzman
3) Webber - "Clarinet Concerto" w/Sabine Meyer
4) Krommer, Spohr - "Clarinet Concertos" w/ Sabine Meyer, Julian Bliss
5) "French Works for Clarinet and Piano"(includes Saint-Saens, Poulenc, Devienne, Milhaud) w/Sabine Meyer, Oleg Maysenberg
6) Copland Clarinet Concerto w/Stanley Drucker
7) Corigliano Clarinet Concerto wit either Stanley Drucker or Richard Stolzman…both are good
8) Stravinsky Ebony Concerto w/Richard Stolzman.
9) Finzi Clarinet Concerto w/Emma Johnson. Unfortunately this one isn't performed/recorded often enough thus the selection is limited, but Emma Johnson is pretty decent
10) Poulenc Sextet for Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn
11) Brahms Clarinet Sonata #1 and #2 w/Harold Wright
12) Brahms Clarinet Quintet w/Harold Wright
13) Brahms Clarinet Trio
14) Schubert - Der Hirt Auf Dem Flesem w/Harold Wright

You basically can not go wrong with Sabine Meyer recordings of anything. She has a traditional, classical, round tone with very little to no vibrato at all. My other favorites are Stanley Drucker, Ricardo Morales, Harold Wright and Richard Stolzman. Stolzman plays with a bit too much vibrato for my tastes, but otherwise really good. Harold Wright's early recordings are very good as well.

FWIW, I would not bother with Thea King on Hyperion label. Her performing is sub par and Hyperion CDs tend to be very pricey. I initially liked it on the first listen when I bought the Brahms sonatas recording but on the second, more critical approach I found that she disappoints. I haven't listened to the cd since then.

Mozart Clarinet Concerto K622 and Quintet K581 are a joy to listen to and if you play clarinet are lots of fun to play as well. Stolzman or Meyer do superb job on these 2 pieces.

Poulenc is a really interesting composer. As a matter of fact, I would recommend everything from Poulenc, not just chamber music. His piano concerto and concerto for two pianos are both outstanding. The French works for Clarinet and Piano cd is great. I couldn't stop listening to it when I bought it.

Anyway, good luck and enjoy the music!

I forgot to include Robert Schumann - "Fantasie Pieces".
A pretty good recording of it is Harold Wright/Peter Serkin, which also includes Brahms Clarinet Sonatas.

and how could I forget Bartok's Contrasts?

Vvrinc, I'm planning to get this cd. There's a brief preview of it on youtube if you search for Martin Frost.

No doubt Benny Goodman was great.
Benny Goodman comissioned Copland to write a concerto for him.
Also, premiere of Poulenc's Clarinet sonata was given at Carnegie Hall by Benny Goodman with Leonard Bernstein.

I'd be interested to know of any decent quality Benny Goodman recording.

Psacanli, my pleasure.

Unfortunately there isn't much for clarinet music in stores. Most of my CDs were purchased online through amazon.

I also like youtube. As a matter of fact, run a search on youtube for Sabine Meyer. There is a brief intro for the Krommer/Spohr disc that I recommended, with Julian Bliss. It will give you an idea of what kind of music it is and how good Sabine and Julian really are.

Bartok is awesome! If you liked the Contrasts, you absolutely must hear Poulenc's sonata for clarinet and piano. Also Poulenc's Sonata for Flute and Piano is great as well.

And I'll check out your recommendation as well. I haven't heard Beethoven's pieces for flute and piano, so this is good....something new for me to listen to!

Marc,
Who do you recommend for Aho concerto?