Bach, Berio, Boulez: Music for Solo Clarinet

Bach, Berio, Boulez – Music for Solo Clarinet / Marek Švejkar

The complete works of Boulez and Berio for solo clarinet: Pierre Boulez (1925–2016) – Domaines, Dialogue de l’ombre double. Luciano Berio (1925–2003) – Sequenza IX, Lied. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) – Partita in A minor BWV 1013 (orig. for flute)

Marek Švejkar – clarinet

The clarinet is one of the instruments with the broadest spectrum of sonic possibilities in terms of its range of dynamics and pitches. It received the greatest attention during the era of Classicism both in solo parts in concertos and in the roles of a chamber music partner and an orchestral instrument. It had to wait until the 20th century for works featuring its unaccompanied solo voice in its full range of colours. Outstanding among the composers who created such works are two figures who fundamentally shaped musical thinking in the latter half of the 20th century: Luciano Berio and Pierre Boulez. Commemorating the 100th anniversaries of both men’s birth, this recording covers their complete music for solo clarinet. Berio and Boulez sought new ways to organise music in time and space, and both took inspiration from poetry. Boulez gave symbolic expression to their quest: “It must be our concern…to jettison the concept of a work as a simple journey starting with a departure and ending with an arrival.” One of the things that inspired Berio’s idea of “polyphonic music for a monophonic instrument” were works by J. S. Bach. One of them, Partita in A minor for solo flute, is heard on this recording in juxtaposition with the modernism of the 20th century. Clarinettist Marek Švejkar is a laureate of the Premier Prix from Paris’s prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur and the winner of multiple international competitions. Recognised for his musical sensitivity, he has appeared as soloist with leading ensembles including the Czech Philharmonic under Jiří Bělohlávek and has been invited to collaborate with the Orchestre de Paris, Orchestra Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Ensemble Intercontemporain, IRCAM, Opéra di Limoges, and with the soloists of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic. A graduate of the legendary Alessandro Carbonare's class at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, he already seems to have his ticket to the European clarinet elite.

Bach – Berio – Boulez: Marek Švejkar's bold and brilliant debut