CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD (1852 - 1924)

 

Clarinet Sonata

Piano Trio No.3

 

World Première Recording

 

Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 129

Fantasy No. 1 for Clarinet and String Quartet

Fantasy No. 2 for Clarinet and String Quartet

Three Intermezzi for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 13

Piano Trio No. 3, Op. 158 Per aspera ad astra

 

Robert Plane - clarinet

Gould Piano Trio

Lucy Gould - violin

Alice Neary - cello

Benjamin Frith - piano

Mia Cooper - violin II

David Adams – viola

 

At the height of his career Sir Charles Stanford held a leading position in British music, not only as a teacher of many of the most important composers of the new generation, but as one of the most significant British composers – the other was Sir Hubert Parry – to have emerged immediately before Elgar.

 

Chiefly remembered today for his Irish Rhapsodies, Seven Symphonies and Clarinet Concerto, Stanford composed many chamber works, including several for clarinet written in what might be described as a ‘Brahmsian’ idiom.

 

The Piano Trio No. 3, the last of three which span Stanford’s mature career, was written as a tribute to friends lost in the First World War.

 

“Plane’s timbre could hardly be more alluring and he strikes up a tangible rapport with Frith. The pleasures continue with the 1945-46 Piano Trio. [The Piano Trio] gets a first-rate performance from the Gould Trio, who bring plenty of bite and sparkle to the rhythmically buoyant finale.” Gramophone

 

Naxos 8570416