Clarinet Concertos

Released in 1999 on the Virgin Veritas label, this recording features clarinetist Antony Pay performing alongside the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. The album serves as a definitive exploration of early 19th-century clarinet repertoire, pairing the virtuoso concertos of Carl Maria von Weber with the works of Bernhard Henrik Crusell. The production reflects the mid-to-late 1990s movement toward period-instrument performances, emphasizing a historically informed approach to sound and phrasing.

Antony Pay, a renowned specialist in historical clarinets, designed the performances to highlight the tonal flexibility and characteristic color of period instruments. By utilizing the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the recording achieves a transparent, balanced acoustic that distinguishes these performances from more modern, symphonic interpretations. Upon its release, the album was well-received by classical music critics for its technical precision and its successful integration of period-specific stylistic nuance.