Robert DiLutis and the Mellifera Quartet give sparkling performances of beloved classics such as Weber’s Clarinet Quintet along with delightful but lesser-known works such as Erland von Koch’s Monolog 3 for Solo Clarinet and Heinrich Joseph Baermann’s Adagio for Clarinet and Strings (known for decades as “Wagner’s Adagio.”) DiLutis describes the Weber Quintet as “a dream come true for clarinetists,” and that description could well apply to the other pieces on this album. Rounded out with consummate presentations of Glazunov’s Reverie orientale, Miklos Rozsa’s Sonatina and Willson Osborne’s Rhapsody for Clarinet, the selections on this album offer a superb survey of works for solo clarinet and clarinet and strings. Robert DiLutis founded the Riversdale Chamber Music Society six years ago, and the presentations at the historic Riversdale House Museum have been captivating audiences ever since. This is the first release of music heard at the mansion.
