The Clarinotts are Ernst Ottensamer and sons Daniel and Andreas, a Viennese "royal family'' of clarinettists.
Ernst has been principal clarinettist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra since 1983 and has also founded other groups like the Wiener Virtuosen that assists on this disc.
Andreas and Daniel are both solo clarinettists at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The trio came together when the boys were children and the family played music, then established itself as a touring ensemble in 2005.
This album, released on New Year's Day 2016, features some of the most virtuosic music written for clarinet, arranged for two or three soloists with orchestra or piano.
In some tracks the deeper reed bass of basset horn and bass clarinet are also gloriously heard in the combination.
The impressive 11 tracks range from Mendelssohn and Mozart to Bonfa's film music classic Manha de Carnaval, and a new piece, Cinema I, written for Clarinotts by Bela Koremy.
The three musicians have superb technique, shown to great advantage in the opening arrangements of Mendelssohn's dazzling Concert Piece Op.113, followed by three wonderful items inspired by operas: Mozart's trio "Soove sio il vente'' from Cosi Fan Tutte, the Doppler brothers' Fantasy on Themes from Verdi's Rigoletto (originally written for two flutes) and Ponchielli's Il Convegno.
Rossini's La Danza follows with delights by Francaix and Truan.
There is much to admire and astonish in terms of mellow or scintillating reed tones, articulation, blending and dexterity of the brilliant Clarinotts - well accompanied and recorded.
Verdict: Exquisite clarinet sounds. Rigoletto fantasy amazes.
