Charm is a rare quality in Hindemith, but the opening movement of his Sonata certainly has it, and in the second, the wan lyricism gives way to a jiggy march before returning to pastoralism. The sonatas by Schoeck and Sluka between them explore almost every lyrical and virtuosic possibility of the bass clarinet's wide range, and Rehak's Sonet III makes a dark, haunting interlude. But it is the work by Stefan Heucke that is most striking of all, with its dazzling central 'Variations', full of extraordinary rhythmic ideas and unexpected sounds. Its closing 'Elegie' is then penetratingly plangent, so the ear welcomes Burkhardt Soll's rather entertaining encore piece to lighten the mood. Superb performances throughout, most realistically recorded.'