British Clarinet Concertos Vol 2
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Benjamin Britten, William (James) Mathias, Arnold (Atkinson) Cooke
Genre:
Orchestral
Label: Chandos
Magazine Review Date: 04/2016
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 83
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CHAN10891

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Movements for Clarinet Concerto |
Benjamin Britten, Composer
BBC Symphony Orchestra Benjamin Britten, Composer Michael Collins, Clarinet |
(5) Bagatelles |
Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer
BBC Symphony Orchestra Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer Michael Collins, Clarinet |
Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra |
Arnold (Atkinson) Cooke, Composer
Arnold (Atkinson) Cooke, Composer BBC Symphony Orchestra Michael Collins, Clarinet |
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra |
William (James) Mathias, Composer
BBC Symphony Orchestra Michael Collins, Clarinet William (James) Mathias, Composer |
Author: Mark Pullinger
The other arrangement here is Gerald Finzi’s familiar quintet of Bagatelles, clothed in Lawrence Ashmore’s saccharine arrangement for clarinet and string ensemble. The Prelude trips along nicely, while in the Romance Collins is more expansive than Robert Plane (Naxos), with beautifully veiled tone. The Fughetta – a real finger-breaker – has plenty of firm bite.
Arnold Cooke and William Mathias provide dips into unfamiliar repertoire. Both concertos were first performed by Gervase de Peyer but Collins is a worthy successor and gives persuasive accounts of both. The Cooke Concerto is especially notable for its lyrical, pastoral central movement, with its blackbird call, which Collins spins out as lovingly as Thea King (Hyperion). The finale, with its cross-rhythms and syncopations, is delightfully played. Mathias’s Concerto plunges the listener straight into the drama and Collins responds with bags of personality. The percussion section of the BBC SO has a field day – glockenspiel, vibraphone and rototoms joining in the melee. An inventively packed programme – all 83 minutes of it – enthusiastically recommended.
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