John Finucane & Elisaveta Blumina - French Holidays (2017)

Feather-light music played as light as a feather: this is John Finucane’s first GENUIN release in a nutshell. He joins on the recording with piano partner Elisaveta Blumina, who has already appeared on three CDs with the Leipzig label. In this exquisite combination of French Romanticism and Post-Romanticism, the virtuoso Irish clarinetist does not betray the slightest hint that he is performing some of the most challenging pieces written for his instrument. Works by Debussy, Françaix, Saint-Saëns, and Widor are played with such joy and naturalness that we feel transported to the world of Paul Verlaine or Marcel Proust.

TRACKLIST
01. Tema con variazioni
02. Introduction et rondo, Op. 72
03. Clarinet Sonata, FP 184: I. Allegro tristamente
04. Clarinet Sonata, FP 184: II. Romanza
05. Clarinet Sonata, FP 184: III. Allegro con fuoco
06. Clarinet Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 167, R. 147: I. Allegretto
07. Clarinet Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 167, R. 147: II. Allegro animato
08. Clarinet Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 167, R. 147: III. Lento
09. Clarinet Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 167, R. 147: IV. Molto allegro-Allegretto
10. Canzonetta, Op. 19
11. Sarabande et Allegro (arr. for clarinet and piano)
12. Première rhapsodie, L. 116