FROST AND FRIENDS – ENCORES

SCRIABIN: Prelude in B major, Op.16 No.1;

J.S. BACH / GOUNOD: Ave Maria;

J.S. BACH: Presto from Sonata for solo violin in G minor; BRAHMS: Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Op.105 No.1; Traditional: Let’s Be Happy;

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: The Flight of the Bumble-Bee; KREISLER: Liebesleid;

MESSAGER: Solo de Concours;

RACHMANINOV: Vocalise;

CHOPIN: Nocturne in E flat major, Op.9 No.2;

SCHUMANN: Dein Angesicht, Op.127 No.2;

MONTI: Csárdás;

HILLBORG: The Peacock Moment;

Martin FRÖST: Improvisation (based on a theme by Malcolm Arnold);

CHAPLIN: Smile;

Göran FRÖST: Brudvals för Karin och Martin;

HENRYSON: Off Pist; eden ahbez: Nature Boy

Martin Fröst, clarinet

Roland Pöntinen, piano

Malena Ernman, mezzo-soprano

Torleif Thedéen, cello

Christian Svarfvar, violin

Åsa Thedéen, violin

Göran Fröst, viola

Svante Henryson, cello/double bass

Hermann Stefánsson, clarinet

Sölve Kingstedt, clarinet

A calendar filled with orchestral concerts and chamber recitals in many of the world’s most prestigious venues has given the clarinettist Martin Fröst ample opportunity to develop a wide range of encores, for every occasion. Known for the imaginatively themed concert programmes he devises with various musician friends, he has also explored a number of musical genres.

These aspects of his artistry are both demonstrated on this constantly engaging disc, which includes immortal gems such as Rachmaninov’s Vocalise and Kreisler’s Liebeslied as well as pieces rather less usual in a classical context: Charlie Chaplin’s Smile and the klezmer traditional Let’s Be Happy.

Throughout the programme Fröst receives the expert support of the pianist Roland Pöntinen, a chamber music partner of long standing who has also been involved in devising many of the imaginative arrangements, for instance of Vittorio Monti’s Csárdás. Three other musical companions of Fröst’s make cameo appearances, with mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman joining the clarinet in the head-long flight of not one, but two bumble-bees. Torleif Thedéen’s cello sings a heartfelt Ave Maria while Svante Henryson, also a cellist, plays in his own duo piece Off Pist.

“His virtuosity lies in his exceptional dexterity and agility…and in his daring control of the instrument’s dynamic and expressive extremes.” The Times

BIS SACD BISSACD1823