First, a CD celebrating classical works in unfamiliar settings: Clarinets By Arrangement (SFZM0310). You can buy the album at http://www.sfzmusic.co.uk/internet-shop-browse-all-cds/ ‘one of the most important historical instruments productions of the year’ Musical Pointers
Aux Armes Cityoens was the first of two CDs recorded with the Canadian group ‘Les Jacobins’ (Montreal) and appeared on the ATMA Classique label (ACD22595). It showcases selected works for wind sextet composed around the time of the French Revolution by Gossec as well as some contemporary arrangements by the group’s founder-director Matthieu Lussier. ‘ On retient plutot du CD Les Jacobins la faconde melodique – parfois mozartienne – mais aussi, et surtout, les timbres irresistibles.’ (Le Devoir) The second CD was Méhul: Le Chant du départ – Ouvertures et oeuvres révolutionnaires (ACD22659). Full details for these CDs can be found at http://www.atmaclassique.com/pdf/Livret/01dab652-dafb-42a4-b5dd-a604026342a0_2595_livret_F.pdf
Backofen & Mozart: Theme & Variations (Analekta AN2 9949) was recorded with another Canadian group, the Eybler Quartet (Toronto). Theme & Variations features Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, K.581 (played on the basset clarinet) and two more quintets by his later contemporary, Johann Georg Heinrich Backofen (1764-1839), one for clarinet and the other for basset horn. Details at https://www.analekta.com/fr/album/Backofen-Mozart-Themes-Variations.597.html
2012 saw the appearance of Schubert’s Lieder: Music and Words (SFZM0312/ 0213) which celebrates some of Schubert’s most popular songs, and some not so well known, in a programme of arrangements made in the nineteenth century by virtuoso clarinettist and professor at the Munich Hochschule, Carl Baermann. Baermann’s arrangements are notable for retaining the texts underneath the clarinet line, as expressive hints to the performer. On this disc, I am partnered by Eugene Asti, and Baermann’s arrangements are set alongside vocal performances by Norbert Meyn, William Dazeley and Mhairi Lawson. Buy it at http://www.sfzmusic.eu/cd-janeboothschu.html
At the end of 2012 Ensemble DeNOTE released a DVD of Mozart’s wonderful Kegelstatt Trio for clarinet, viola and fortepiano. I am playing a 5-keyed Viennese clarinet based on a Lotz original, made by Peter van der Poel. Peter Collyer (viola) and John Irving (fortepiano) recorded this documentary and performance with me at Finchcocks Musical Museum, in Goudhurst, Kent. The DVD is on OpticNerve Productions (www.opticnerve.co.uk).
2013 saw the anniversary of two key figures of the late classical/early romantic eras: Vanhal and Danzi. I released two CDs commemorating these figures, the first, with Ensemble DeNOTE, featuring all of his works for clarinet and piano (SFZM0413), and the second, with ensemble f2, the initial volume in a projected series of all Danzi’s works for piano and winds (DMCD002).
janeboothclarinets 