Weber: Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet and piano, Op. 48

Michael Collins is one of our most versatile clarinettists, possessing a dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship that have made him the favourite of conductors, composers, and audiences throughout the world. Now an exclusive Chandos artist, Collins is embarking on a series of recordings designed to display the extraordinarily wide range of music written for his instrument. The present programme comprises a varied repertoire, concentrating generally (though not exclusively) on its more extrovert virtuoso aspects and offering some breathtaking show-stoppers. Well-known works such as Rachmaninoff’s haunting Vocalise contrast with the sunny brilliance of Giampieri’s Il carnevale di Venezia, and the playful, inventive French items by Milhaud and Messager provide a further contrast in mood and colour.

Weber’s bubbly Grand Duo concertant is also among the many highlights on this disc. Unlike other works of his, in which the main purpose of the accompanying instruments is to support the virtuoso solo part, the Grand Duo presents an equal juxtaposition of two virtuoso solo parts, one being the clarinet, the other the piano. The piece is a Duo in the true sense of the word. Another key piece is Milhaud’s famous Scaramouche. This was initially composed as a work for two pianos, but due to its immediate and immense popularity, the composer was soon called on to make several arrangements of it, starting with the one for clarinet and piano which we hear on this CD. The first movement, Vif, has a sense of breezy excitement that is intensified by the bravura cartwheels of the clarinet part. The gentle Modéré that follows has a lovely dreamy feel to it, which is in stark contrast to the vigorous rhythmic energy of the exuberant finale, Brazileira.

Moving to the present day, the disc also presents Simon Milton’s Carmen Fantasy which was premiered at the Harrogate Festival in 2009. Milton stays closely to Bizet’s harmony and keeps the tunes highly recognisable despite all the elaborations and mini-cadenzas with which he intersperses them. It is a thoroughly engaging work, well worth a separate mention.

Future discs will include one dedicated to showing the instrument’s lyrical qualities, and several devoted to clarinet concertos, including Weber’s and a group of British works.

Born in Ma, Spain, Ona Cardona began her musical studies in Menorca before moving to Barcelona. After graduating at Escola Superior de Msica de Catalunya, she won a scholarship to attend Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she obtained a Masters in Music Performance with Distinction.

“Vibracones del Alma” is the second recital album from the vibrant young clarinettist Maximiliano Martín.

Together with pianist Scott Mitchell he explores the diversity of European clarinet repertoire and presents a captivating selection of music from composers such as Yuste, McCabe and Romero.

Following on from his acclaimed debut album Fantasía, this programme further establishes Martín as a leading advocate and interpreter of Spanish clarinet music with works from Europe’s leading clarinet composers Antonio Romero y Andía and Miguel Yuste.

Liverpool-born composer John McCabe personally advised Martín with regard to his performance of Pieces for clarinet and piano for this recording, resulting in an insightful and authentic performance.

Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor’s trademark virtuosity is evident in the Introduction and Rondo, Op. 72. Martín more than meets the demands of the great contrasts of beautifully lyrical phrases and technically complex bravura passages.

Martín won the Young Artists Platform Competition in 2002 and has since performed in the most important concert halls and international festivals establishing himself as one of the most talented and charismatic musicians of his generation.

Martín already has many fans as the popular Principal Clarinet for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and has built an enviable reputation as a soloist with acclaimed performances in his birthplace Tenerife and throughout Europe.

Scott Mitchell performs extensively as a chamber music pianist and accompanist. He has been awarded the Lisa Fuchsova Prize for outstanding chamber music pianist and the Eric Rice Memorial Prize for outstanding accompanist, both at the Royal Overseas League Music Competition in London.

“Vibracones del Alma” is a well-planned programme of some of the best European music for clarinet, played to perfection by Maximiliano Martín accompanied by Scott Mitchell on piano.

This release comprises little known works for clarinet and piano spanning a period of two hundred years by composers including Rossini, Bataller, de la Cruz, Kovacs, Medina and Weber. Josef Fuster and Isabel Hernandez obviously delight in this repertoire and perform with precision and technical virtuosity.