Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet), Mathias Baier (bassoon), Henrik Wiese (flute), Nimrod Guez (viola), Uta Jungwirth (harp), Elisaveta Blumina (piano)CPO 777 630-2 ****

Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919-96) was in his 20s when he got to know Shostakovich, an encounter of which he said "It was as if I had been born anew." The influence cut both ways, with Weinberg's Jewish heritage making a deep impression on the older composer, and the two became lifelong friends. The works here, all given characterful performances,fall into two periods. The Clarinet Sonata has a seductive gentleness that prevails over its darker moments, and the 12 Miniatures for flute and piano, are set of varied character pieces – both works date from 1945. The Solo Bassoon Sonata (1981), has an attractive extempore feel to it, and the melancholy of the Trio for flute, viola and harp (1979) is not quite dispelled by the tripping motion of the finale. cpo.de