Heinrich Baermann (1784-1847) is counted among the most famous and influential clarinet players of music history. He was solo clarinet player at the court of Prince Louis Ferdinand von Preußen, later he moved to the court of Munich of King Maximilian I, which boasted one of the best orchestras of the time. Baermann composed extensively for his instrument, and this new recording presents three substantial Clarinet Quintets, masterpieces in their genre, bringing out all the qualities of his beloved reed instrument the clarinet, in a rich, romantic idiom. Excellent playing by Henk de Graaf, former solo clarinettist of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.