Gerald Finzi - Clarinet Concerto; etc. (Robert Plane)

Information

Composer: Gerald Finzi

• (01) Clarinet Concerto, Op. 31
• (04) Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a
• (09) Three Soliloquies from 'Love's Labours Lost', Op. 28
• (12) A Severn Rhapsody, Op. 3
• (13) Romance in E flat for string orchestra, Op. 11
• (14) Introit in F major for solo violin and small orchestra, Op. 6

Robert Plane, clarinet
Northern Sinfonia
Howard Griffiths, conductor

Date: 1995
Label: Naxos
https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.553566

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Review

A highly accomplished, indeed commanding performance of Finzi’s gorgeous Clarinet Concerto from Northern Sinfonia principal, Robert Plane. With his bright, singing tone and effortless technical mastery, Plane leaves at least as stylish an impression as both Emma Johnson and Andrew Marriner: if the former perhaps displays a marginally greater sense of improvisatory fantasy in her phrasing, there’s certainly no shortage of intuitive poetry from Plane in the sublime central Adagio (though his contribution at times lacks that last ounce of rapt hush that makes Johnson’s reading so special). Moreover, Howard Griffiths’s conducting is arguably more cogent than that of either Groves or Marriner pere. In the finale, for instance, how perceptively Griffiths relates the first violins’ playful staccato writing from 2'19'' back to those imposing (and here splendidly unanimous) martellato gestures at 0'42'' and 6'36'' in the opening Allegro vigoroso – a tiny observation, but one symptomatic of his thoughtfully etched conception as a whole.

We also get an atmospheric account of Lawrence Ashmore’s idiomatic orchestration of the Five Bagatelles (with the poignant “Romance” a highlight), as well as exquisitely drawn renderings of both the Romance for strings and “Three Soliloquies” from Finzi’s incidental music for a 1946 BBC production of Love’s Labour’s Lost. The fragrant, very early Severn Rhapsody (1923) makes a welcome return to the catalogue under Griffiths’s deeply felt advocacy, and Lesley Hatfield makes a touching soloist in the radiant Introit (the slow movement of a withdrawn Violin Concerto from 1925-7).

Tim Handley’s sound and balance are extremely truthful, though the acoustic may be a little over-resonant for some tastes. Really helpful presentation too. All in all, another remarkable British music bargain from Naxos.

-- Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone

More reviews:
https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-2946/
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/may99/finzi.htm
https://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.553566&languageid=EN
https://www.amazon.com/Finzi-Clarinet-Concerto-Gerald/dp/B00000HZXA

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Gerald Finzi (14 July 1901 – 27 September 1956) was a British composer. He studied with Ernest Farrar, Edward Bairstow and Reginald Owen Morris. Finzi is best known as a choral composer, but also wrote in other genres. Large-scale compositions by Finzi include the cantata Dies natalis for solo voice and string orchestra, and his concertos for cello and clarinet. Finzi also wrote nine song cycles and a few chamber works. Thanks to both of his sons and the support of other enthusiasts, as well as the work of the Finzi Trust and the Finzi Friends, Finzi’s music enjoyed a great resurgence from the late 20th century onwards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Finzi
http://www.geraldfinzi.com/

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Robert Plane is a British clarinettist, particularly known for his performances and recordings of the English repertoire. Alongside his solo and chamber work, Plane has held the position of principal clarinet with Royal Northern Sinfonia, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has played as a guest principal with the Royal Concertgebouw, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Plane teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and for many years has given an annual class at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Plane_(clarinettist)
http://www.robertplane.com/

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Howard Griffiths (born 24 February 1950 in Hastings) is a British conductor. Griffiths studied music at the Royal College of Music, London, and has lived in Switzerland since 1981. He was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra from 1996 to 2006. Since the season 2007/08, he is General Music Director of the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester, and has also appeared as a guest conductor with many leading orchestras all over the world. Griffiths has a broad repertoire, with about 100 CD recordings with various labels (including Warner, Universal, cpo, Sony and Koch).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Griffiths_(conductor)

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