It matters not that the clarinetist
Sabine Meyer is German and pianist
Oleg Maisenberg is Ukrainian: this recital of clarinet sonatas is still French to the bone marrow. The principal reason for this, naturally, is the repertoire. With works by
Saint-Saëns,
Poulenc, Devienne, and
Milhaud, this recital could hardly be anything but French. But while other non-native players might misplace the accents or misjudge the rhythms,
Meyer and
Maisenberg are deep into the Gallic groove. Of course, no matter what the language,
Meyer is a consummate musician with an immaculate technique and unfailingly good taste, and
Maisenberg is a polished accompanist with a strong technique and unhesitatingly generous support. But here they speak French like natives. Their
Saint-Saëns is tart, tender, and reserved. Their
Poulenc is sweet, soulful, and insouciant. Their Devienne is smart, stunning, and virtuosic. And their encore -- three movements from
Milhaud's Scaramouche arranged for clarinet and piano -- is wry, witty, and, in the closing Brazileira, fall-down funny. Captured by producer John Fraser in sound so real you'll swear this is no recording at all, but rather purest aural magic, this disc commends itself to Francophiles of any nationality.