Various Composers - British Clarinet Concertos, Vol. 1 (Michael Collins)

Information

• Charles Villiers Stanford - Clarinet Concerto in A minor, Op. 80
• Gerald Finzi - Clarinet Concerto in C minor, Op. 31
• Malcolm Arnold - Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Op. 115

Michael Collins, clarinet & conductor

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Date: 2012

Label: Chandos

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010739

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Review

Concertos from Collins, directing from his clarinet

Arguably one of the best-conceived Romantic clarinet concertos, Stanford’s Clarinet Concerto of 1902 has now had a fair number of outings on CD, with Thea King (Hyperion, 11/80), Emma Johnson (ASV, 6/92), Robert Plane (Naxos, 12/08), John Finucane (RTÉ Lyric FM) and Janet Hilton (Chandos, 1/92); indeed, this is the second recording made by Chandos but is executed in a unique manner, with soloist Michael Collins acting as conductor of the BBC SO. Collins’s playing is compelling throughout, as is his conception of the larger one-movement span. The orchestral playing of the BBC SO is crisp and the clarity of the recording allows one to hear a lot more the harmonic colour and variety that is lost in some of the others. There is much energy in the last movement, where Collins shows off not only his splendid agility but also the affecting pathos of the closing pages of the score.

Similarly, Finzi’s Concerto has been a favourite of many clarinettists over the years with its appealing, euphonious melodies enhanced by the rich accompaniment for strings. Collins’s nuances, carefully shaped phrasing and rubato are beautifully suited to the melancholy yearning of Finzi’s style, particularly in the plangent slow movement. Arnold’s Second Clarinet Concerto, by contrast, has a sharper edge that lies tantalisingly between neo-classicism and neo-romanticism. All three movements are highly characterful in their exploration of dance, ragtime and song, though the wistful slow movement is most evocative.

-- Jeremy Dibble, Gramophone

More reviews:
MusicWeb International  RECORDING OF THE MONTH

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/Jan13/British_clarinet_CHAN10739.htm

https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/orchestral/british-clarinet-concertos

https://www.amazon.com/British-Clarinet-Concertos-CHARLES-HUBERT/dp/B00925TAZU

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Michael Collins (born 27 January 1962 in Isleworth, West London) is a British clarinetist and conductor. He clarinet at the Royal College of Music under David Hamilton and Thea King. At the age of 16, he won the 1978 BBC Young Musician woodwind prize. Collins has served as the principal clarinet of several orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra (1987–95) and London Sinfonietta. He also performs as a soloist and as part of chamber ensembles. As a conductor, e has served as the principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia (2010–18) and the London Mozart Players (2021–23).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(clarinetist)

http://www.michael-collins.co.uk/

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