Regarded as the most all-encompassing clarinettist of recent decades, Eduard Brunner was first clarinet of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra during Rafael Kubelik's tenure, as well as a virtuoso soloist in concertos by composers from Carl Stamitz, Mozart and Spohr to Lachenmann. This passionate chamber musician's partners included Alfred Brendel, Gidon Kremer, Aurèle Nicolet, Gerhard Oppitz and Natalia Gutman. The musical landscape and the repertoire for solo clarinet was enlivened by Italian opera composers. The wonderful melodiousness of bel canto operas is superbly suited to the natureof the clarinet, which can be both lyrical and virtuous.