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Chandos

British Clarinet Concertos: Stanford, Finzi, Arnold / Collins

$21.99

Details

Composer
FINZI ARNOLD STANFORD
Artist
Collins
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Oct 30, 2012
Catalog #
CHAN 10739
UPC
095115173923

About

This album marks the beginning of a new survey of British Clarinet Concertos, featuring the exclusive Chandos artist Michael Collins, who here combines the role of soloist with that of conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Indisputably one of the leading clarinettists of his generation, Michael Collins displays a dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship which have made him a sought-after soloist with orchestras including the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France and the Philadelphia, NHK Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus, City of Birmingham Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, BBC Symphony, and Philharmonia orchestras. In recent seasons he has won increasing regard as a conductor and in September 2010 assumed the post of Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia.

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford wrote extensively for the clarinet. His works include the Sonata, recorded by Michael Collins on CHAN 10704 (and very favourably reviewed in BBC Music, see below), and the Concerto recorded here, which, coincidentally, was the first for the instrument to be composed by a major British composer. This concerto boasts an exuberantly virtuosic solo part, accompanied by an orchestra excluding clarinets, but including a brass section of four horns and two trumpets.

The Clarinet Concerto by Finzi was performed by a young Michael Collins in the final of the first BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, in 1978. The work conjures a sense of fresh spontaneity, as it moves through baroque-inspired pastoralism, Elgarian influences, and lively folk-inspired melody.

The virtuosic Clarinet Concerto No. 2 by Sir Malcolm Arnold bears the dedication: ‘for Benny Goodman with admiration and love’. It had been commissioned three years earlier by the celebrated American jazz clarinettist, who had also established a reputation as a classical performer.

- Chandos Records

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro moderato 05:51
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    05:51
    Composer
    Charles Villiers Stanford
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  2. 2 II. Adante con moto, ma piu tranquillo 09:49
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Adante con moto, ma piu tranquillo
    Duration
    09:49
    Composer
    Charles Villiers Stanford
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  3. 3 III. Allegro moderato 05:35
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro moderato
    Duration
    05:35
    Composer
    Charles Villiers Stanford
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  4. 4 I. Allegro vigoroso 07:33
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegro vigoroso
    Duration
    07:33
    Composer
    Gerald Finzi
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  5. 5 II. Adagio, ma senza rigore 12:24
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Adagio, ma senza rigore
    Duration
    12:24
    Composer
    Gerald Finzi
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  6. 6 III. Rondo: Allegro giocoso 08:01
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Rondo: Allegro giocoso
    Duration
    08:01
    Composer
    Gerald Finzi
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  7. 7 I. Allegro vivace 05:35
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Allegro vivace
    Duration
    05:35
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  8. 8 II. Lento 08:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Lento
    Duration
    08:06
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins
  9. 9 III. The Pre-Goodman Rag: Allegro non troppo 02:10
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. The Pre-Goodman Rag: Allegro non troppo
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Malcolm Arnold
    Performer
    Michael Collins
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Collins