Françaix / Nielsen: Clarinet Concertos

Françaix, Jean, Nielsen, Carl

Beltramini, Paolo, Lombard, Alain

95994

This new recording presents two 20th century Clarinet Concertos, by Carl Nielsen and Jean Francaix, each a masterwork in their genre. • The Clarinet Concerto by Danish composer Carl Nielsen was premiered in 1928 by Aagen Oxenvad, dedicatee of the work, and who was also closely involved in the creation of the work. It is a bold, highly expressive and virtuoso work, full of extreme contrasts so characteristic of Nielsen. It became a cornerstone of the repertoire. • The Clarinet Concerto by Jean Francaix is a highly demanding tour de force, full of French "esprit". Francaix about his work: "This concerto is, or at least I hope it is, amusing to listen to. It is a kind of acrobatics display for the ear, complete with loops, wing-turns and nose-dives which are fairly terrifying for the soloist, who needs to have a good stomach and several thousand flying hours under his belt". Clarinetist Paolo Beltramini was First Prize winner of the Prague Spring Festival in 1996. As a chamber music player he collaborated with Martha Argerich and Heinz Holliger. He has been first clarinetist of the Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. In this recording he plays with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, of which he is presently first desk player.

Works:

• Françaix: Clarinet Concerto
• Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto Op. 57 (FS129)

CD x 1

Brilliant Classics

2019-09-30

5028421959948