Following their edition of the Grand Concerto in F minor Op. 5 (51481209), Henle expands their series of Crusell's clarinet concertos to include the one in B-flat major Op. 11. The Swedish composer was himself a prominent clarinet virtuoso and the concertos were tailor-made for himself so to speak. Despite being technically very demanding, the Concerto in B-flat major avoids being overly virtuosic and wins us over with its melodic ingenuity. It is a very welcome addition to Henle's early Romantic repertoire for the clarinet. The clarinetist Nicolai Pfeffer edited the edition in an exemplary manner, consulting the sole surviving source, the first edition of 1829. Johannes Umbreit was responsible for the study score, which wonderfully fits the hands.

This edition completes Henle's series of all three clarinet concertos by the Swedish composer and clarinetist Bernhard Henrik Crusell. Issued in Leipzig in 1811, it was his first published work but had definitely been composed several years prior to this. With its elegant head movement and the simple and moving Adagio, it is probably the most Mozartian of all of his three concertos, although the final rondo is reminiscent of Carl Maria von Weber. The editor and clarinetist Nicolai Pfeffer is now presenting this charming work, between Classicism and Romanticism, on the basis of the first edition. The piano reduction wonderfully fits the hands and was prepared by Johannes Umbreit on the basis of the original orchestral parts.

The Swedish composer Bernhard Henrik Crusell was long viewed as an insider tip among clarinettists; in the meantime, his concertos have found their way to the concert stage. This is hardly surprising considering the enchanting music with which Crusell - himself aclarinet virtuoso of international rank - has enriched the early romantic repertoire. Crusell's works needn't shy from a comparison with Weber's and Spohr's clarinet output. This Urtext edition of the F minor concerto marks the beginning of a new publication series of all three clarinet concertos by Crusell which has been entrusted to the editor and clarinetist Nicolai Pfeffer. Since he combines editorial experience with many years of performance practice, the works are in the best possible hands.