The British clarinettist and conductor Michael Collins is a versatile musician with a world reputation. On this album, his instrument sounds like an elegant Parisienne, hiding her melancholy behind a voile. Starting with Camille Saint-Saëns, who died exactly a century ago. In that last year, 1921, he wrote three sonatas for wind instruments, including the beautiful Clarinet Sonata op.167. Listen
… how the clarinet dances and jumps in the Allegro Animato (movement 2). The contrast with the following Lento could not be greater, as if a death sentence is being pronounced. Then a Molto allegro, in which the windows are opened against each other and a fresh wind blows. Clashing emotions can also be found in Poulenc's clarinet sonata, which opens with a 'sad allegro' (allegro tristamente). A number of pieces are competition or examination pieces. One of these is the grand Première Rhapsodie by Debussy (there was never a second one). Also the Introduction et Rondo by Widor belongs to this category. Let us hope that the students did not curse Widor for all those chromatic runs, because it is a charming piece in every way. (HJ)more
