Breathtaking virtuosity, sumptuous sound, expression brimming with suspense. On his debut album the young Belarusian clarinettist Vladimir Soltan gives his all while enjoying superb ensemble support from the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. Under its conductor José Luíz Gómez this orchestra simply surpasses itself in concertante competition with the soloist.

Coupling together three almost-contemporary clarinet concertos from three different composers but equally virtuosic in style, this recording is a wonderful exploration of the repertoire.

When the wonderfully nimbly instrumented piece from Francaix was composed, there were considerable doubts about its playability, but today it numbers among the most popular works of its genre.

The precision teamwork characterising this recording by Vladimir Soltan and the Hamburg Symphony is an absolute listening must. The music sparkles with delight and joy, making for true listening pleasure. And MDG’s 2+2+2 sound in three dimensions enhances this sublime experience: you are right there, live, in the midst of musical things – so fasten your seatbelts!