French Holidays
Works by C. Debussy, J. Françaix, G. Grovlez, G. Pierné, F. Poulenc, C. Saint-Saëns and C.-M. Widor
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Tracklist
- Jean Françaix (1912–1997)
Tema con variazioni pour clarinette en la et piano (1974) - Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)
Introduction et Rondo pour clarinette et piano, Op. 72 (1898) - Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
Sonate pour clarinette et piano (1962) - Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921)
Sonate pour clarinette avec accompagnement de piano, Op. 167 (1921) - Gabriel Pierné (1863–1937)
Canzonetta, Op. 19 (1888) - Gabriel Grovlez (1879–1944)
Sarabande et Allegro (1929) - Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Première Rhapsodie pour clarinette et piano (1909/1910)
Feather-light music played as light as a feather: this is John Finucane’s first GENUIN release in a nutshell. He joins on the recording with piano partner Elisaveta Blumina, who has already appeared on three CDs with the Leipzig label. In this exquisite combination of French Romanticism and Post-Romanticism, the virtuoso Irish clarinetist does not betray the slightest hint that he is performing some of the most challenging pieces written for his instrument. Works by Debussy, Françaix, Saint-Saëns, and Widor are played with such joy and naturalness that we feel transported to the world of Paul Verlaine or Marcel Proust... Bon voyage, dear listeners!
Diapason / September 2017
"Il serait tentant d`écouter le disque John Finucane en le comparant aux versions de ses homologues francais qui font florès depuis une quinzaine d`années."
The Clarinet
"The performances on this album truly showcase the fine collaboration between two sensitive musicians. They succeed in highlighting the clarinet’s “cantabile virtuosity.”"
Review by Justin Stanley in "The Clarinet", December 2017